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Why Are Players Wearing Black Armbands During Leeds United vs Everton? Real Reason Explained

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Farah Ben Gamra | Last updated Aug 18, 2025 3:55 PM ET

On Monday, August 18, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. BST (3:00 p.m. ET, 12:00 p.m. PT), Leeds United return to the Premier League with a home game against Everton at Elland Road.

It’s the first game back in the new Premier League season for Leeds and there’s more to it than just the football. As with every other game this weekend, players from both teams will be wearing black armbands, and fans are already asking what it means.

Black armbands have been a part of football for years. They're a way to mourn and pay respect to someone associated with the sport who has died. This time, it’s the Premier League that has made the decision to wear, and every club will be taking part.

Rest in peace, Andre and Diogo pic.twitter.com/I2cVm8k6M3
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 18, 2025

The Reason Behind all Premier League teams wearing Black armbands?

It’s in memory of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva who sadly passed away in a car accident over the summer. Every game in Matchday 1 of the 2025–26 season will be marked with the same rituals: players wearing black armbands, a minute’s silence before kick-off and tribute messages on the screens.

The tributes started on Friday, August 15 when Liverpool played Bournemouth in the opening game of the season. Anfield was emotional as fans held banners, observed the silence and joined in a fantastic tribute to their former forward.

❤️ pic.twitter.com/oaFn7CVPn2
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 15, 2025

The tributes continued over the weekend and will end with Leeds vs. Everton on August 18, so this will be a moment of collective mourning that goes way beyond club rivalries.

The origins of the tribute go back to the Community Shield between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium on August 10th, where an emotional ceremony saw wreaths laid by football dignitaries, a minute’s silence and fans singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.

Leeds United vs Everton will be the last match of the Premier League's opening weekend where the players will wear black armbands, closing off Matchday 1 tributes, before business goes back to usual in the Premier League.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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