Saudi Pro League club Al-Taawoun has been sanctioned by the Saudi Football Federation after its supporters aimed distressing chants at Al-Hilal midfielder Rúben Neves during a match on Saturday, referencing the death of his close friend and former teammate Diogo Jota.
The federation ruled that Al-Taawoun must play its next two home league fixtures without spectators and imposed a fine of 100,000 Saudi Riyals, equivalent to roughly £20,000. The punishment stems from repeated chants of "Jota" directed at Neves throughout the contest, which Al-Taawoun won 6-0.
Jota, who played for Liverpool and the Portuguese national team, died in a car accident in Spain in July at the age of 28. His brother, André Silva, also lost his life in the same crash. Neves and Jota shared a long history together, having been teammates at both Wolverhampton Wanderers and with Portugal's national side.
The bond between the two players has remained visible since the tragedy. Neves now wears the number 21 for Portugal as a tribute to his late friend and has had a tattoo inked on his calf depicting the pair embracing. He also served as a pallbearer at Jota's funeral, underscoring the depth of their friendship.
During Saturday's match, television footage captured Neves gesturing skyward as the chants from Al-Taawoun supporters continued. Speaking afterward, Neves expressed his dismay at the behavior, saying: "I just hope they don't go to pray later after what they did."
The incident drew swift condemnation from prominent figures in Saudi football, including Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr and was previously a Portugal international teammate of Jota. Ronaldo publicly called for the offending supporters to receive lifetime stadium bans, arguing that such conduct warranted the harshest possible response.
In its official disciplinary statement, the Saudi Football Federation explained that Al-Taawoun's fans had violated regulations governing conduct and ethics at matches. The federation noted: "The fans of Al-Taawoun chanted phrases and slogans that violated the provisions of the disciplinary and ethics regulations, and the committee decided to increase the penalty in accordance with (39-4) of the disciplinary and ethics regulations."
Al-Taawoun issued its own statement distancing the club from the actions of its supporters, emphasizing that such behavior does not reflect the institution's values or identity. The club stated: "Such behaviour is completely unacceptable and does not represent the club, its fans, or the values for which the club is known. Sports competition cannot be a justification for insulting, belittling, or bullying others at the expense of anyone's feelings."
The episode has reignited discussions about fan conduct and accountability within the Saudi Pro League, particularly as the competition continues to attract global attention following the arrival of high-profile international players. Neves' emotional connection to Jota, and the visible tributes he continues to carry both on and off the pitch, made the targeted chants especially jarring to many observers within the football community.
The two-match stadium ban means Al-Taawoun will be required to host its upcoming home league fixtures without fans present, a significant operational and financial consequence layered atop the monetary fine. Neither Al-Taawoun nor the Saudi Football Federation indicated whether further measures against individual supporters would follow.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport and The Guardian.