The “Diogo Jota Foundation”, allegedly founded just three days after footballer Diogo Jota’s death on July 3, claimed to be dedicated to honoring the player’s legacy — from his humble beginnings at a small academy in Gondomar to becoming one of Europe’s most respected footballers. On its website, the foundation boasted of distributing 25,000 meals, funding tuition for 300 children, and establishing 50 local partnerships.
However, suspicions quickly arose regarding the legitimacy of the foundation. According to The Telegraph, both Liverpool FC and Jota’s family confirmed they had no knowledge of the organization or its website. The UK Charity Commission also stated that the foundation had never filed any application for registration.
The controversy deepened after it was revealed that the foundation’s website displayed logos of Liverpool, Allianz, UNICEF, and the Portuguese NGO Development Platform — none of which had ever partnered with the organization. Allianz UK issued a statement clarifying: “We can confirm that no partnership exists, and our logo should not have been used on the site.”
As of now, the foundation’s website has gone offline, redirecting users to a generic domain hosting page. Fans and the broader football community have expressed outrage and concern, noting the rise of scams disguised as charitable organizations. The case has fueled calls for stricter oversight of online fundraising platforms, especially those exploiting the names of public figures.
Sources: Znews
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