Portuguese tennis player Francisco Cabral was given permission to stray from Wimbledon’s strict all-white dress code to honor the late Liverpool and Portugal soccer star Diogo Jota, he told reporters, including CNN, on Friday.

Jota died in a car crash in Spain early Thursday morning. He was 28. His brother, André Silva – who was also a professional soccer player – also died in the accident at the age of 25.

Cabral, who competed in men’s doubles, told CNN he initially wanted to wear a black armband, but he said he was told that would not be allowed. He was granted approval to wear a small black ribbon instead.

The AELTC said to CNN in a statement: “We are always open to having conversations with players regarding such matters, and given the tragic circumstances, the Referee’s Office has approved the players wearing a black ribbon as a mark of respect and condolence.”

Cabral, ranked 40th in the world in doubles, won his first-round match Thursday but fell in the second round Friday with his playing partner Lucas Miedler of Austria.