A minute’s silence in memory of Diogo Jota ahead of the Community Shield at Wembley had to be cut short due to shouting from a small number of Crystal Palace fans.
Tributes were paid before kick-off to the former Liverpool forward, 28, and his younger brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash in Spain on 3 July.
Reds fans, some of whom had booed the national anthem, paid respects with a rousing rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone as wreaths were laid on the pitch.
But referee Chris Kavanagh cut the minute’s silence short after just 20 seconds when it was disturbed by a minority of fans from the Palace end.
The interruption was met with a strong response from the Liverpool end, while Eagles supporters also tried to silence those not observing the tribute.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said he was “disappointed” by the incident after his side lost on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
“I don’t know who did that but there was plenty trying to shush it down, but obviously that doesn’t help it,” he said.
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“But it is what it is. You can’t control how many fans were here today? Was it 80,000 people? So, yeah, it is disappointing to hear that, but if that person or those persons can go home and be happy with themselves, then…”
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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot played down the interruption, saying: “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.
“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.”
Sky Sports News has approached Crystal Palace for comment.
