The football world collectively mourned the sudden loss of Diogo Jota. The former Portuguese international died on July 3, following a car accident in Spain. It was a tragedy that stunned many. Yet, even as grief settled, a suspicious cloud formed around a new online entity.
This entity, calling itself the ‘Diogo Jota Foundation,’ popped up online quickly. Its website, diogojotafoundation.org, appeared just three days after Jota’s passing, on July 6. The group claimed it was a non-governmental organization, or NGO. It also said it had already collected over $64,000, which is about 55,000 euros. The foundation stated these funds had helped hundreds of children.
However, red flags started waving almost immediately. The Telegraph newspaper in England reported on serious fraud suspicions. Their investigation revealed that the supposed foundation had no connection to Liverpool FC, the club Jota played for, nor to Jota’s family.
Even more concerning, the website’s only accepted payment method was cryptocurrency. The site stated, “we accept USDT, ETH, and other cryptocurrencies through NOWPayments safely.” It would open a new tab when a user tried to donate. This unusual payment method raised eyebrows for many observers.
To make itself look legitimate, the ‘Diogo Jota Foundation’ website displayed logos of well-known organizations. These included Liverpool FC, UNICEF, Allianz, and the Portuguese Platform of Non-Governmental Organizations for Development. But The Telegraph reached out to these groups. Three of them confirmed they had no partnership with the website. They also said their logos were being used completely illegally. Liverpool FC told The Telegraph Sport directly that neither the club nor Jota’s family knew anything about this foundation or its website.
The foundation claimed its main goal was to “celebrate Diogo’s incredible journey.” It listed three core areas of focus:
- Football Programs: “We create opportunities for young talent through free football camps and basic training in underdeveloped communities.”
- Scholarships & Mentorship: “We empower students with scholarships, academic resources, and personal development coaching so they thrive beyond sport.”
- Community Partnerships: “We collaborate with local organizations to promote health, inclusion, and youth engagement in all regions.”
The group also claimed impressive results. It said it had distributed 25,000 meals. It also stated it had helped 300 children in schools. Furthermore, it claimed to have set up about 50 local partnerships. A message on the website urged, “Each contribution helps us reach even more communities in need.”
The foundation’s contact information included a UK phone number and an email address. However, The Telegraph reported that calls and questions to these contacts went unanswered. For nearly a month and a half of activity, the ‘Diogo Jota Foundation’ never filed a registration request with the Charity Commission. This commission is the independent charity regulator for England and Wales. It makes sure organizations follow charity laws. An official source from the Charity Commission confirmed this fact to the British newspaper when asked about the case. It seems the quick rise of this foundation brought more questions than answers, casting a dark shadow over a time of mourning.