How to Honor Diogo Jota at Matches This Season (Respectful Supporter Guide)
When a player means as much to supporters as Diogo Jota did, the tributes belong to the whole football family. This guide keeps things practical, respectful, and club-agnostic—what to do before kick-off, during formal moments, and how to sing together without drowning the occasion.
First principles (read this first)
- Club guidance comes first. If the stadium announces a plan (silence, applause, armbands), follow it.
- Capo/drum cues decide timing. Enter together. No competing chants.
- Choose unity over volume. Short, simple, positive tributes carry best.
- Zero hate, zero bait. This isn’t the moment for rivalry digs or explicit language.
Before the match (checklist)
- Confirm if the club has announced a minute’s silence or minute’s applause.
- Agree a plan with your section: one chant to use, when to start, how many loops (2–3).
- Scarf etiquette: scarves up during the formal moment; lower when the PA/capo signals it’s over.
- Nominate a single chant starter (or drum) so entries are clean.
During formal tributes
Minutes of Silence Stay silent until the whistle/PA ends the moment. No clapping, no chant count-ins.
Minutes of Applause Join the applause; if your end plans to sing after, wait for the applause to finish, then start together.
Armbands / Wreaths Let the ceremony breathe; record quietly if you must. Singing begins only once players/staff take their places.
PA Tributes If the announcer reads a tribute, stay silent. Begin singing only after the final line.
Singing after the tribute (short, unified, repeatable)
Use melodies the whole stand knows. Keep each run to ~20–30 seconds, then reset. Options that work in any league:
- Name Call-and-Response — Leader: “Diogo!” → Crowd: “Jota!” → three claps → repeat.
- Seven Nation Army bassline — “Oh-oh-oh… Diogo Jota!” (2–3 loops max).
- Allez, allez, allez variant — “Allez, allez… Diogo Jota!” with claps.
- Viking clap tribute — Clap → pause → clap; shout “Diogo!” on the downbeat every 2–3 claps.
Tip: If the home end starts first, away end follows on the next loop—don’t overlap with a different tune.
Choosing a minute to sing (number 20 idea)
Diogo Jota wore #20 at Liverpool. Many sections choose the 20th minute for a short, unified run of his chant. If there’s a formal tribute at kick-off, save the 20’ moment for a second, lighter tribute—one loop is enough during live play.
Scarves, banners & tifo (do’s & don’ts)
- Keep it positive. Names, numbers, dates, and simple messages (“Obrigado, Diogo”). Avoid rivalry references.
- Visibility. Coordinate with your club or supporter group for size and placement; don’t block sightlines in family sections.
- Tifo timing. If there’s a display, follow the capo/PA cues for when to raise and lower. Don’t sing over a silence beneath a tifo.
Away-end etiquette (UEFA & domestic)
- Arrive as a unit and follow steward instructions—especially for tribute logistics.
- Sound travels differently in upper tiers; follow the drum to keep tempo together.
- Respect the hosts. Use neutral, positive wording on banners.
Talking to kids on matchday
- Explain that tributes are about thanking a player and supporting the team.
- Practice a short version of the chant with them before the game.
- During silences: “We show respect by being quiet for a moment.”
Respect & safety (non-negotiables)
- Zero hate, zero slurs. Keep language clean—especially around families.
- No pyro or pitch incursions. Fines and bans help no one.
- Look after each other. If someone needs help, get a steward.
Final whistle: Tributes land best when they’re simple, unified, and timed with care. Learn one melody, follow the cues, and sing together. If your end has a thoughtful local idea (e.g., a 20th-minute run), share it with your club’s supporter liaison so more fans can join in.