Saudi club Al-Taawon has received a fine and been mandated to play their upcoming matches behind closed doors. This decision follows the emergence of video footage showing fans chanting about the late Portugal forward Diogo Jota. The governing body has taken a firm stance against such behavior to maintain the integrity of the sport.
Al-Taawon was fined 100,000 Saudi Riyals (around $26,700) and ordered to play its next two home games without fans. Footage appeared online over the weekend showing Portugal international Ruben Neves reacting to what sounded like chants of Jota’s name during Al-Hilal’s 6-0 win against Al-Taawon. Liverpool striker Jota and his brother André Silva were killed in a car accident in Spain in July 2025. Al-Hilal fans showed their support for Neves in its game against Al-Gharafa on Tuesday (September 15, 2026), holding up cards that made up a giant number eight – his shirt number – in the crowd and a banner which read “Together beyond football. Neves scored a penalty in the 2-1 win.
Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, a teammate of Jota’s, called for lifetime bans for fans involved in the chants. People who behave like this should never be allowed to enter a stadium again.
The Saudi soccer federation said fans had “chanted phrases and slogans that violated” its ethics. The governing body said the decision could not be appealed. “The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behaviour,” the Al-Nassr forward commented on a video of the incident on Instagram. ”This is no longer football, and there have to be limits.