Al Taawoun Faces Sanctions for Chants Mocking Diogo Jota
Al Taawoun have been hit with a hefty sanction after a section of their supporters mocked the death of Portugal star Diogo Jota during a Saudi Pro League clash with Al Hilal.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) fined the club 100,000 riyals ($26,660) and ordered them to play their next two league games behind closed doors, following chants that targeted Al Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves.
Chants that crossed a line
The incident unfolded on Saturday, Sept. 12, with Neves standing over a free kick at Al Taawoun’s home ground. As he prepared to strike the ball, footage shared widely on social media captured some fans chanting “Jota! Jota! Jota!” in his direction.
Neves didn’t ignore it. He turned, offered a slow, sarcastic applause and a thumbs up, then pointed to the sky before gesturing back at the stands — a clear acknowledgment of what he had just heard.
For Neves, it cut deep. He and Jota had grown up in the game together, sharing dressing rooms at Porto, Wolves and with the Portugal national team. When Jota died, Neves served as a pallbearer at his funeral. The bond was public and profound, which made the chants all the more vicious.
SAFF steps in
The reaction from the authorities was swift and strong.
“The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) and the Saudi Professional League express their condemnation of the unacceptable behavior exhibited by some fans during the Al-Taawoun vs. Al-Hilal match in the seventh round of the Saudi Professional League. This behavior is contrary to the values of Saudi football and sportsmanship,” SAFF said in a statement after the game.
“SAFF and the League emphasize that exploiting personal tragedies to incite or provoke is unacceptable and has no place in Saudi football.”
The punishment was clear: a significant fine and two home matches without supporters. For a club that leans heavily on its home atmosphere, it is a serious blow.
Ronaldo’s furious response
The incident resonated far beyond that stadium. Al Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo, who played alongside both Neves and Jota for Portugal, publicly demanded a firm response.
Reacting to an Instagram post that highlighted the chants, Ronaldo wrote: “The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behavior. 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.”
His words underlined the sense that a line had been crossed — not about rivalry, not about noise or pressure, but about basic respect.
Al Taawoun distances itself from fans
Al Taawoun moved quickly to distance the club from the behavior of those in the stands.
“Such behavior is completely unacceptable and does not represent Al Taawoun Club, its fans, or the values for which the club's stands are known,” the club said in a statement.
“Sports competition cannot be a justification for insulting, belittling, or bullying others at the expense of anyone's feelings.”
The message was unambiguous: the club wants no part in this.
Now the question hangs over the league: with sanctions imposed and global stars demanding lifetime bans, how far is Saudi football prepared to go to ensure that grief and tragedy are never again turned into a weapon from the stands?
