Liverpool manager Arne Slot decided to give the benefit of the doubt to Crystal Palace supporters after they disrupted the minute's silence at Wembley Stadium, held in remembrance of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who passed away last month. The silence was observed before the start of the FA Community Shield on Sunday. However, referee Chris Kavanagh cut it short after Crystal Palace fans started booing from the east end of the stadium.
Diogo Jota and Andre Silva died in a car crash in Spain last month. Jota and Silva were aged 28 and 25, respectively. Arne Slot was asked about the fans' reaction after Liverpool lost the FA Community Shield 2-3 on penalties.
It was then that Slot said he believed Crystal Palace fans did not intend to boo, saying the incident was just 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, according to the BBC.
"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," he added.
No bad intention
Slot doubled down on his remarks, saying he doesn't believe that there was any ill intention on the part of Crystal Palace supporters. Hence, everyone should just let go.
{{/usCountry}}Slot doubled down on his remarks, saying he doesn't believe that there was any ill intention on the part of Crystal Palace supporters. Hence, everyone should just let go.
{{/usCountry}}"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," said Slot.
"We will see Friday, when Bournemouth come to our stadium, how respectful that is going to happen. It's also five weeks ago, so that's why maybe this fan who was just so happy for them to be in the Community Shield that he forgot in a second," he added.
The normal 90-minute match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace ended in a 2-2 draw. However, the latter emerged victorious on penalties.
Earlier, Liverpool had won the Premier League 2024-25 season, while Crystal Palace ended their trophy drought by beating Manchester City to win the FA Cup.
Liverpool will begin their Premier League title defence later this week when the Reds take on Bournemouth.