Saudi Pro League club Al Taawoun has been fined and issued bans after sickening Diogo Jota chants were heard before a recent game against Al Hilal in the Middle East
A tribute to Diogo Jota before the World Cup game between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto.
A tribute to Diogo Jota before the World Cup game between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto.(Image: Michael Miller/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
The Saudi Pro League club Al Taawoun has been ordered to play its next two home games behind closed doors after supporters chanted the name of the late Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota during Saturday's match against Al Hilal.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has also ordered the club to pay a fine of around $27K (£20K).
Jota was killed alongside his brother, Andre, when the car they were traveling in crashed in northern Spain in July 2025. Footage posted on social media over the weekend appeared to show Jota's close friend and former teammate Ruben Neves, who plays for Al Hilal, responding to the chants coming from the stands.
Al Hilal won the match 6-0, but Neves appeared to sarcastically applaud the sickening behaviour. The midfielder later told reporters: "I just hope they don't go to pray later after what they did."
Neves and Jota were close friends, having played alongside one another for Portugal and Porto. They also both moved to Wolves in England to take the next step in their careers. Neves took Jota's Portugal No. 21 jersey in tribute last year.
On Sunday, Cristiano Ronaldo, who also played alongside Jota for Portugal, asked the Saudi Pro League to issue lifetime stadium bans to any supporter found to have been involved.
Ruben Neves has hit back at disgraceful Diogo Jota chants aimed in his direction while playing for Al-Hilal
Ruben Neves has hit back at disgraceful Diogo Jota chants aimed in his direction while playing for Al-Hilal(Image: X)
"The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behavior," he said.
"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."
Neves was in attendance when Liverpool faced Wolves in March 2026, with both clubs displaying their own tributes to the late Jota in the first meeting between them since his passing.
Play stopped in the 18th minute of the match in honor of Jota, who wore No. 18 while playing for the Midlands club. Neves and Jota's family was spotted together at the fixture, honoring the life of the late star.
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Liverpool had already retired the number 20 jersey in tribute to Jota.
"I believe this is the first time in Liverpool Football Club’s history that such an honor has been bestowed upon an individual. Therefore, we can say this is a unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person," then FSG CEO of football, Michael Edwards, said.
"By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal — and therefore never to be forgotten. Diogo joined us in 2020, he won us number 20, and he wore — with honor, distinction and affection — the number 20.
"As far as Liverpool Football Club is concerned, he will be forever our number 20."