Fans disrupting Jota silence had ‘no bad intention’ – Slot

Liverpool manager Arne Slot does not believe that Crystal Palace fans intended to disrupt the minute’s silence held in remembrance of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva before Sunday’s Community Shield.

Referee Chris Kavanagh cut short the silence after supporters at Wembley booed shouts coming from the east end of Wembley, where the Palace fans were located.

Former Liverpool forward Jota and his brother Silva died in a car crash in northern Spain last month, aged 28 and 25 respectively.

Speaking to the media after his side lost the traditional season curtain-raiser 3-2 on penalties, Liverpool manager Slot said he believes the interruption to be accidental.

“I don’t think this was planned, or that this was the idea of the fan that made some noise. Maybe he wasn’t aware of the fact that it was the minute of silence,” Slot said.

“He was just still happy and tried to cheer for his team. And I think then the fans of Palace were trying to calm that person or those persons down, so I don’t think he had a bad intention, the guy or people that made noise.

“They tried to calm him down, but that was a bit noisy as well. And then our fans reacted, ‘Hey, what’s happening here?’

“So I don’t think there’s a bad intention to it, because the fans of Crystal Palace and everywhere around the world have paid huge respect to Diogo and Andre and this was I think unlucky or, I can’t find the right words, but I don’t think there was a bad intention in it.

“We will see Friday, when Bournemouth come to our stadium, how respectful that is going to happen.

FA Cup holders Palace twice came from behind in a 2-2 draw at Wembley before goalkeeper Dean Henderson saved two penalties in the shootout to defeat the Premier League champions.

Liverpool’s £64m summer signing Hugo Ekitike gave his side an early lead, before Jean-Philippe Mateta converted a penalty awarded for a Virgil van Dijk foul.

Slot’s side retook the lead shortly afterwards when Jeremie Frimpong’s cross floated over Henderson and went in off the post, but it was the timing of the goal that was most significant.

Frimpong’s goal was timed at 20 minutes and 20 seconds, the same number Jota wore during his five seasons at Anfield.

“It is incredible. Some things are just mean to be. It is unbelievable isn’t it?” commentator Darren Fletcher said on TNT Sports.

“You just have to look about. There are a lot of stunned people at the moment.”