Al Taawoun have been fined 100,000 Saudi Riyals and ordered to play two home matches behind closed doors after fans chanted Diogo Jota’s name at Ruben Neves.
Al Taawoun have been fined 100,000 Saudi Riyals and ordered to play their next two home Saudi Pro League matches behind closed doors after fans chanted Diogo Jota’s name at Al Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves. The incident occurred on Saturday, Sept. 12, during Al Hilal’s 6-0 victory over Al Taawoun. Footage circulated online showing sections of the home crowd chanting Jota’s name toward Neves, who reacted during the match. Three days later, on Tuesday, Sept. 15, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s Disciplinary and Ethics Committee announced its ruling.
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Why Were Jota Chants Directed at Ruben Neves?
The chants carried a deeply personal connection for Neves. He and Jota were close friends and former teammates at Wolverhampton Wanderers and with Portugal. Jota died alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in Spain in July 2025. Neves was among the pallbearers at Jota’s funeral, making the references to the late forward particularly sensitive.
Neves appeared to respond to the chants during the match by pointing toward his eye and then toward the sky. After the final whistle, he expressed his frustration with the supporters’ behavior. Al Hilal subsequently filed a formal complaint with the Saudi football authorities. Al Taawoun also condemned the chants, saying the behaviour did not represent the club or its supporters.
When Did the Saudi Football Federation Announce Its Decision?
The disciplinary process moved quickly after the Sept. 12 match. On Sept. 13, Cristiano Ronaldo publicly condemned the chants and called for those responsible to face severe punishment. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation and Saudi Pro League also condemned the behavior and said action would follow an investigation. The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee announced its decision on Tuesday, Sept. 15, three days after the incident. It ruled that Al Taawoun supporters had violated the federation’s Disciplinary and Ethics regulations and imposed the club’s punishment. The decision was then widely reported on Sept. 15 and 16, making clear that the federation had completed its disciplinary process.
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How Did Cristiano Ronaldo React?
Ronaldo, who played alongside Jota for Portugal, was among the most prominent figures to condemn the incident. On Sept. 13, the Al Nassr captain said the league needed to punish this type of behavior and argued that supporters responsible should not be allowed to enter stadiums again. His comments came before the federation announced its ruling.
The controversy has also followed Neves into the AFC Champions League Elite. On Sept. 16, just four days after the incident, he scored a penalty and provided an assist as Al Hilal defeated Al Gharafa 2-1. Al Hilal supporters also showed their support for Neves during the match. For Al Taawoun, however, the focus now shifts to the consequences of the incident, while Neves has moved on with his season after receiving support from teammates, his club, and fans.
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