The 2025 Community Shield was marred by booing fans and VAR, before Crystal Palace go on to beat Liverpool on penalties.
A minute’s silence for Diogo Jota and Andre Silva was interrupted by a minority of Crystal Palace fans prior to the Community Shield getting underway. It is alleged that a fan disrupted, with those around telling them to be quiet.
The tribute, for the brothers who died in a car crash in Spain in July, was cut short after 20 seconds by referee Chris Kavanagh.
Wreaths were laid by Liverpool legend Ian Rush and Palace chairman Steve Parish following by tane emotional moment of Liverpool fans singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, and most Palace fans stood to applaud.
Liverpool fans also booed the national anthem before kick off.
@espnfc #diogojota #liverpool #crystalpalace ♬ original sound – ESPN FC
Some idiots booing during the minutes silence for Diogo Jota & his brother Andre😡 pic.twitter.com/fssW5O7kyX
— The 44 ⚽️ (@The_Forty_Four) August 10, 2025
Salah’s face says it all 😡😡
Disgraceful from Crystal Palace fans booing during the minute silence for Diogo Jota and his brother 💔 pic.twitter.com/YjfgxKN6vx
— Septimus Prime (@septimusajprime) August 10, 2025
Liverpool fans unveil a tribute to Diogo Jota while singing You’ll Never Walk Alone ❤️ pic.twitter.com/hzNjKgwLfi
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 10, 2025
Boos from the Liverpool end during the national anthem at Wembley pic.twitter.com/lDbHYj8HJG
— Aadam Patel (@aadamp9) August 10, 2025
Sky Sports’ Peter Smith at Wembley: “Unsavoury moments there, as a few Crystal Palace fans called out ‘Eagles’ during the minute’s silence for Diogo Jota, which drew boos from the Liverpool end. It followed Liverpool fans booing the national anthem, which drew an angry response from some in the Palace end.”
Henry Winter: “Not the most dignified of starts. Liverpool fans booing the National Anthem. A few Palace fans noisy during period of silence in memory of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva.”
Emma Smith (BBC Sport at Wembley): “Unfortunately the moment of silence for Diogo Jota and Andre Silva was interrupted by a few people shouting from the crowd, and was cut short. The majority of supporters show their appreciation for Jota and Silva with applause after the ref blew his whistle. Two talented young men, gone far too soon.”
Commentator Darren Fletcher: “Why on earth there would be a few in the stadium who would spoil that moment is beyond me.”
Ally McCoist: “That defies logic, that.”
Speaking to the media, Liverpool manager Arne 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.
“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.”
Then came the game itself, and that also came with some controversy.
Liverpool were ahead after just four minutes, Florian Wirtz on the left, slides the ball it through for Hugo Ekitike, a little one-two then slotted it into the far corner.
On 17 minutes, Ismalla Sarr fell to the deck under the challenge from Virgil van Dijk, up stepped Jean-Philippe Mateta and sent Alisson Becker the wrong way.
It was 2-1 to the Reds with 21 minutes on the clock, Dominik Szoboszlai with a ball out to Jeremie Frimpong, and puts it over Dean Henderson and into the net.
Despite the chances keep coming for Liverpool, with around 15 minutes remaining of the second half, Palace went level. Cody Gakpo lost the ball in his own half, Adam Wharton found the run of Ismaila Sarr and found the equaliser.
With 10 minutes left of the second half to go, the ball struck the hand of Alexis Mac Allister before it dropped to Ismaila Sarr. VAR took a look but the corner is given and came to nothing.
Penalties were needed to settle this one, no extra time. Mo Salah stepped up for the first spot kick and skied it over the crossbar.
Jean-Philippe Mateta for Palace, and scored.
Alexis Mac Allister next for Liverpool and Dean Henderson guessed the right way with a strong left hand to save it.
Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo sends Dean Henderson the wrong way to make it 1-1.
Palace made it 2-1, Alisson beaten by a cool finish from Ismaila Sarr.
Harvey Elliott’s turn and Dean Henderson went the right way again and keeps out Harvey Elliott’s tame effort.
Borna Sosa smashed his shot back off the crossbar, then Dominik Szoboszlai made no mistake to level it at 2-2.
It all came down to Justin Devenny for a chance to win it, and that he did, straight into the top corner to win the Community Shield for Crystal Palace for the first time in their history!
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, speaking to TNT Sports: “I love the big moments, I love being in that pressure moment. The homework we did on penalties was great.
“They have unbelievable players and have a great team but two trophies in three months is incredible.
“These emotions are fantastic. The manager said we’d get chances in the second half and we deserved to win that in the end.”
On his penalty record: “The homework we did for the penalties was great, thank you to everyone behind the scenes.”
On beating the champions: “It’s incredible to beat Liverpool. Coming here they were the favourites, they have unbelievable players and are a good team. But we’ve won two trophies in three months for this club and it’s a remarkable moment in our history.”
Jean-Philippe Mateta talking post-match: “It’s been fantastic. We worked very hard. I was confident. I wanted to win this trophy. I wanted to score and I am happy. We hope to be back at Wembley at the end of the season!”
Oliver Glasner told TNT Sport: “I’m very happy with the squad because of course they won the trophy,” Glasner told TNT Sport.” But I don’t want to complain about plenty of games, because you see that as a reward.
“If we don’t win the FA Cup, then we don’t talk about European football. But we want to win something, we want to play European football. We will be ready for it.
“But of course, if somebody needs a break – such as Daichi Kamada [who was injured] today and maybe we will miss him at Chelsea – and we need just maybe adding one or two players.
“It’s not that I have to tell the chairman or somebody, we know it is about finding the right ones. I’m pretty sure we will find the right ones.
“We’re looking for really clear profiles, great characters, you can see the spirit and the togetherness in the group.”
