Saudi club Al-Taawon has been fined and ordered to play its next two home matches without spectators after video appeared to show its fans chanting about the late Portugal forward Diogo Jota during a recent match.
The Saudi soccer federation said the fans had "chanted phrases and slogans that violated" its code of ethics. Al-Taawon was hit with a fine of 100,000 Saudi Riyals, roughly $26,700, on top of the closed-doors punishment. The federation added that the decision could not be appealed.
Footage circulating online over the weekend showed Portugal international Ruben Neves reacting to what sounded like chants of Jota's name during Al-Hilal's 6-0 win over Al-Taawon. Liverpool striker Jota and his brother André Silva were killed in a car accident in Spain in July 2025.
Ronaldo Calls for Lifetime Bans
Cristiano Ronaldo, a former Portugal teammate of Jota's, reacted strongly to the footage, calling for those responsible to be banned from stadiums for life. "The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behaviour," the Al-Nassr forward wrote on Instagram alongside a video of the incident. "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 supporters showed their own response during the club's game against Al-Gharafa on September 15, 2026, holding up cards that formed a giant number eight in the crowd, referencing Neves' shirt number, alongside a banner reading "Together beyond football." Neves scored a penalty as Al-Hilal won that match 2-1.
