Saudi Pro League orders Al-Taawoun stadium ban following offensive Diogo Jota chants at Rúben Neves
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) and the Saudi Pro League (SPL) have handed Al-Taawoun a stadium ban and a financial sanction following offensive chants directed at Al-Hilal midfielder Rúben Neves regarding his late teammate Diogo Jota.
The incident occurred in the aftermath of Al-Hilal's dominant 6-0 away victory over Al-Taawoun, a match where summer acquisitions Ollie Watkins and Gabriel Martinelli combined for five goals. Following the final whistle, a section of home supporters in the stadium targeted Neves by repeatedly chanting the name of Jota, the former Liverpool, Wolves, and Portugal forward who tragically passed away.
Neves, who played alongside Jota at both club and international level and carries a commemorative tattoo of his close friend, was visibly distressed on the pitch. He gestured toward the stands that "God is watching you" before telling reporters post-match: "I hope they don’t go to pray afterwards."
Ronaldo and League Figures Demand Action
The incident quickly gained international attention after Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo spoke out forcefully on social media to condemn the abuse. Addressing his 680 million followers, Ronaldo called for the league to impose severe punishments on those involved.
“The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behaviour,” Ronaldo 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.”
Prominent Saudi media figures and former players echoed the condemnation. Renowned Saudi broadcaster Waleed al-Farraj emphasised the boundary between standard sporting banter and unacceptable malice, stating: “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. How can you play on people’s grief like this? You should have some humanity.”
Saudi football legend Sami al-Jaber also shared words of support directly to Neves: “Rúben, your presence in Saudi football means a great deal to us. As Saudis, we take pride in our values of respect and hospitality… they transcend any sporting rivalry. This behaviour does not reflect those values. I hope you know how warmly you are regarded here, and how much you belong.”
Sanctions and Wider Implications
Following an official complaint lodged by Al-Hilal, the governing authorities acted by fining Al-Taawoun approximately £20,000 and ordering them to play two upcoming matches behind closed doors.
In a joint statement, the SAFF and SPL declared: “The Saudi Arabian Football Federation and the Saudi Pro League condemn the unacceptable conduct by some supporters in attendance. Exploiting personal tragedies for the purpose of abuse or provocation is unacceptable behaviour that has no place in Saudi football.”
The controversy arrives as Saudi Arabia continues its push to expand its football infrastructure ahead of hosting the Asian Cup and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, putting supporter culture and league regulation under an increasingly intense global spotlight.