Saudi Pro League club Al-Taawoun have been fined 100,000 Saudi Riyals and ordered to play their next two home league matches behind closed doors following chants involving the late Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota.
The disciplinary action comes after a section of Al-Taawoun supporters repeatedly chanted Jota’s name towards Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves during Saturday’s league meeting between the two sides.
Al-Hilal went on to win the match 6-0, but the result was overshadowed by the incident involving Neves, who was a close friend and former teammate of Jota.
According to the Saudi Football Federation’s disciplinary decision, the supporters’ chants violated the relevant Disciplinary and Ethics regulations. The federation subsequently imposed the two-match stadium closure and a fine of 100,000 riyals, which is approximately £20,000.
The chants were directed at Neves, who played alongside Jota at Wolverhampton Wanderers and for the Portugal national team. The two players developed a close friendship during their time together in football.
Jota died in July 2025 at the age of 28 in a car crash in Spain. His brother, André Silva, also died in the accident.
Neves was among those deeply affected by Jota’s death and was one of the pallbearers at his funeral. The personal relationship between the two Portuguese internationals made the chants particularly sensitive for the Al-Hilal midfielder.
During the match, footage appeared to show supporters repeatedly shouting Jota’s name at Neves. The midfielder responded by pointing towards his eye and then towards the sky.
After the match, Neves expressed his disappointment about the incident, saying he hoped those responsible would reflect on their actions.
The controversy quickly spread beyond Saudi Arabia after Cristiano Ronaldo, who played alongside Jota for Portugal, reacted to footage of the incident on social media.
Ronaldo called on the Saudi Pro League to take action against the supporters involved and argued that those responsible should not be allowed to enter football stadiums again.
“The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behaviour,” Ronaldo said in his response. He added that there should be limits to what supporters can do in the name of football rivalry.
Ronaldo’s comments amounted to a call for lifetime stadium bans for the individuals responsible. However, the punishment eventually announced by the Saudi authorities was directed at Al-Taawoun as a club, with two home matches to be played without supporters and a financial penalty imposed.
Before the final punishment was announced, both Al-Hilal and Al-Taawoun had condemned the incident.
Al-Hilal submitted a formal complaint to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, asking the authorities to investigate the chants and take appropriate action. Al-Taawoun also said it rejected abusive behaviour and would cooperate with the relevant authorities to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
The Saudi Pro League and Saudi Arabian Football Federation had earlier issued a joint statement condemning the use of personal tragedies to provoke or abuse players.
The authorities said the relevant disciplinary committees had identified the conduct and would take action under the applicable regulations. That process has now resulted in the punishment handed to Al-Taawoun.
The incident occurred during what was otherwise a dominant performance from Al-Hilal. The Riyadh-based club defeated Al-Taawoun 6-0, with Neves featuring for 75 minutes before being substituted.
The disciplinary case has since shifted attention from the result to the broader issue of supporter conduct in the Saudi Pro League.
For Neves, the incident carried a personal dimension because of his long-standing friendship with Jota. The pair represented both club and country together and remained close away from the pitch.
Jota’s death in 2025 prompted tributes from across the football world, particularly in Portugal and at Liverpool, where he had established himself as an important player.
The Saudi authorities have now formally responded to the Al-Taawoun incident with a financial penalty and stadium closure. The club will therefore have to play its next two home league fixtures without supporters in attendance.
The punishment follows Ronaldo’s public demand for stronger action and closes the disciplinary process surrounding the chants that targeted Neves during Al-Taawoun’s heavy defeat to Al-Hilal.
