Saudi Pro League Bans Club Over ‘Jota’ Chants, After Ronaldo Demands Action

chants referencing late footballer Diogo Jota.

Saudi Pro League club Al-Taawoun has been fined 100,000 Saudi Riyals and ordered to play its next two home league matches behind closed doors after supporters taunted Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves with chants referencing the late Diogo Jota.

The sanctions were announced by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s Discipline and Ethics Committee following the incident during Al-Taawoun’s league match against Al-Hilal on Saturday.

Sections of the home crowd repeatedly chanted “Jota” at Neves during the game, which Al-Hilal won 6-0.

Jota, the former Liverpool and Portugal forward, died in a car crash in Spain in July 2025 alongside his younger brother, Andre Silva.

Neves was a close friend and former teammate of Jota at Wolverhampton Wanderers and with the Portugal national team. He was also among the pallbearers at Jota’s funeral.

Footage of the incident circulated on social media, showing Neves reacting to the chants by pointing towards his eye and then towards the sky.

Speaking after the match, the Portuguese midfielder criticised the behaviour and expressed his disappointment over the incident.

The chants also prompted a strong reaction from Cristiano Ronaldo, who played alongside Jota and Neves for Portugal.

Ronaldo called on the Saudi Pro League to take firm action against those responsible and said supporters involved should never be allowed into football stadiums again.

The Saudi football authorities subsequently investigated the incident and imposed the sanctions on Al-Taawoun.

The club will now be required to host its next two home league matches without spectators, while also paying the 100,000-riyal financial penalty.

Al-Taawoun had earlier condemned the supporters’ behaviour, describing the chants as unacceptable and stressing that the conduct did not represent the club, its supporters or its values.

Al-Hilal also filed a formal complaint with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation after the incident.

The Saudi football authorities said exploiting personal tragedies to provoke players was inconsistent with the values of football and principles of sportsmanship.

The punishment comes after Ronaldo publicly called for lifetime stadium bans for the supporters involved.

The incident has drawn attention across international football because of the close friendship between Neves and Jota and the circumstances surrounding Jota’s death.

Neves continues to honour Jota’s memory by wearing the number 21 shirt for Portugal, while he also has a tattoo depicting the two friends together.