Disruption at Wembley during Jota silence draws mixed reactions

Arne Slot comments after a minority of Crystal Palace supporters interrupted a minute of silence for Diogo Jota before the Community Shield.

Arne Slot defends Palace crowd after silence disruption at Wembley

At Wembley on Sunday, a minute of silence for Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva was observed by most fans but interrupted by a small group chanting Eagles ahead of the Community Shield. Diogo Jota and his brother died on 3 July in Zamora, Spain after a suspected tyre blowout, just 11 days after Jota married his partner. Liverpool fans at the opposite end booed as the tribute ended, and a banner showing Jota with the Premier League trophy and shirt number 20, later retired by the club, was displayed.

Slot defended the Palace supporters, suggesting the disruption was not planned and that some fans may not have been aware of the minute's silence. He said the club would continue to support Jota's family and that the football community has shown strong support for Diogo and Andre. Liverpool had prepared for the new season with the emotional win over Preston North End and a short tribute sequence that included a performance of You’ll Never Walk Alone before kick-off.

This moment underscores how memorial tributes in football can become flashpoints, even when many fans mean to show respect. Leadership now has to balance grief with the practical task of guiding large crowds toward a shared, respectful experience. Slot’s stance signals a preference for context over quick judgment, focusing on intent rather than blame. The incident also tests how clubs manage public memory as the season begins, and whether stadiums can improve signaling so tributes are understood by all supporters.

Highlights

Memory and sport shape how clubs move forward into the new campaign