Minute's silence cut short as fans boo tribute to Liverpool star Diogo Jota ahead of Community Shield clash at Wembley

The minute's silence tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva had to be cut short at Wembley following disruption from the crowd.

  • Minute’s silence had to be cut short
  • playing first competitive game since Jota’s death
  • Reds take early lead against Palace

Minute's silence cut short as fans boo tribute to Liverpool star Diogo Jota ahead of Community Shield clash at WembleyMinute's silence cut short as fans boo tribute to Liverpool star Diogo Jota ahead of Community Shield clash at WembleyMinute's silence cut short as fans boo tribute to Liverpool star Diogo Jota ahead of Community Shield clash at Wembley

Both sets of players lined up on the halfway line to pay their respects to the former Liverpool forward and his young brother who died in a car crash last month. The tribute was initially respected by both sets of players and fans, but, following shouting by a small number of people in the crowd, the referee called the tribute short. The initial shouts were met with boos, forcing the referee to intervene and cut the silence prematurely.

Following the need to stop what should have been a touching tribute to Jota and Silva, TNT Sports commentators Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist were critical of the crowd. Fletcher said: “And why on earth there are a few inside the stadium who would spoil that moment. It is absolutely beyond me.”

McCoist added: “It defies logic that.”

This is Liverpool’s first competitive fixture since the death of Jota. The Reds played their first game without the Portuguese forward in a friendly against , at which tributes were observed impeccably. At Wembley, the Liverpool fans held banners with Jota’s face and wanted to show their appreciation for a special player who provided so many outstanding moments in a Liverpool shirt.

There will be further tributes to Jota when Liverpool return to the next weekend as the club wishes to remember a forward who played such a crucial role in their Premier League success last campaign. They lift the curtain on the new league season against at Anfield on Friday night.