Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision not to attend the funeral of his Portugal national teammate, Diogo Jota, and Jota’s brother André Silva, which took place in Gondomar, Portugal, on Saturday, has sparked considerable public debate and speculation.

The football world continues to mourn the tragic deaths of Jota, the Liverpool forward, and his brother, who perished in a devastating car accident in Spain on Thursday, July 3, while Jota was reportedly en route to England for pre-season training.

Addressing the growing public discourse, Ronaldo’s sister, Katia Aveiro, took to social media to provide a deeply personal explanation for her brother’s absence.

She clarified that Ronaldo chose to stay away out of profound respect for the grieving Jota family, aiming specifically to prevent his immense global presence from becoming the focal point of such a sensitive and sorrowful occasion.

Katia recounted a poignant family experience from 2005, when their own father passed away. She highlighted the overwhelming media presence and intrusive attention that made private grieving nearly impossible for them.

“When our father passed away, we couldn’t even leave the chapel because of the cameras and onlookers. I can’t imagine what it would be like now with Cristiano’s level of attention.

At no time were we (the children) able to leave the chapel; it was only possible at the time of the burial, such was the commotion,” she shared, emphasizing the chaotic scenes they endured.

She vehemently stressed that the collective focus should remain squarely on supporting the Jota family in their immense loss, rather than scrutinizing Ronaldo’s absence.

“It is absurdly shameful to watch social networks emphasizing an absence rather than respectfully honoring the pain of a mutilated family destroyed by the loss of two brothers. I am even ashamed to watch. Regrettable,” Aveiro passionately wrote, condemning the insensitivity of some criticisms.

Katia Aveiro further implored the public and media to grant the Jota family the privacy and space needed to mourn their unimaginable tragedy.

She insisted that continued speculation about Ronaldo’s actions only serves to detract from the raw grief of the bereaved.

To underscore her point, she also issued a stern warning that she would block anyone found criticizing her brother’s decision, highlighting the critical importance of empathy and understanding during such profoundly difficult times.