Off the PitchMirror FootballUnverified source· 16 Sept 2026
Al-Taawoun punished for vile Jota chants at Neves
Fans taunted Ruben Neves over his late friend Diogo Jota — and Al-Taawoun have now paid the price.
Rúben Neves
player
Who
Ruben Neves
What
Taunted over Diogo Jota's death
Punishment
Two home games behind closed doors
Fine
100,000 Saudi Riyals (£20,000)
Match
Al-Hilal 6-0 Al-Taawoun
What happened. Al-Taawoun fans repeatedly chanted 'Jota' at Ruben Neves during Al-Hilal's 6-0 win. The club must now play their next two home matches behind closed doors and have been fined 100,000 Saudi Riyals.
- Neves was a pallbearer at Jota's funeral and wears his Portugal shirt number
- He sarcastically applauded the fans before pointing towards the sky
- Jota and brother Andre Silva died in a car crash in Spain in July 2025
“I just hope they don't go to pray later after what they did.”
— Ruben Neves
Al-Taawoun's next two home fixtures will be played without supporters as the Saudi Pro League enforces its sanction.
In this story
JotaMore to read
Sky Sports
Ronaldo calls for lifetime bans for fans involved in Jota chants
BBC Sport
Ronaldo demands lifetime bans over Jota chants
Mirror Football
Cristiano Ronaldo demands action after Ruben Neves targeted by sick Diogo Jota chants
The Guardian
‘Have some humanity’: Diogo Jota chants at Rúben Neves a wake-up call for Saudi Arabia
