A disturbing incident during a Saudi Pro League fixture has drawn sharp condemnation from across the football world, after a section of Al-Taawoun supporters were heard chanting the name of the late Diogo Jota in an apparent attempt to taunt Al-Hilal's Rúben Neves.
The episode unfolded on Saturday, 13 September, following Al-Hilal's emphatic 6-0 victory at Al-Taawoun, a result driven largely by a forward line featuring Ollie Watkins and Gabriel Martinelli, who combined for five goals. As the match drew to a close, a small group of home fans reportedly began chanting the name of Jota, the former Liverpool and Portugal forward who died in a car accident in July 2025, directing it at Neves, who played alongside Jota for both club and country.
Neves, who carries a tattoo in tribute to his former teammate, appeared visibly shaken by the chants. He responded with a gesture indicating that "God is watching" those responsible, and later told Saudi reporters: "I hope they don't go to pray afterwards."
The fallout was swift and far-reaching. Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the league's most high-profile figures, took to Instagram to address his 680 million followers on the matter. "The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behaviour," he wrote. "This is no longer football, and there have to be limits. People who behave like this should never be allowed to enter a stadium again." Al-Hilal subsequently lodged an official complaint with authorities.
Within the Al-Hilal fanbase, reaction was one of dismay. Ayman al-Hotami, a prominent supporter of the club, said he found the chants "hard to believe" but noted that those involved were "few in number and very young." He added that Al-Hilal's fans "completely condemn the chants and demanded an apology," stressing that the actions of a handful of individuals did not represent the club or Saudi society more broadly.
Saudi broadcaster Waleed al-Faraj drew a distinction between typical rivalry-driven chants and what occurred in this case. "To shout 'Messi' at Ronaldo is acceptable within the context of the rivalry between them, but to chant the name of his deceased teammate Jota at Neves is an inappropriate act," he said. "How can you play on people's grief like this? You should have some humanity."
Saudi football legend Sami al-Jaber, a four-time World Cup participant who also had a brief stint with Wolves in England, issued a personal message of support to Neves, emphasizing that such conduct ran counter to Saudi values of "respect and hospitality."
Four days after the incident, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and the Saudi Pro League issued a joint statement condemning the fans' behavior as inconsistent with the values of the sport. Al-Taawoun were subsequently fined approximately £20,000 and ordered to play two matches without spectators. An earlier federation statement had described the exploitation of personal tragedy for provocation as having