Al-Taawon fined and ordered to play behind closed doors after video of fans chanting Diogo Jota
Saudi club Al-Taawon has been fined and ordered to play behind closed doors after a video emerged that appeared to show fans chanting about the late Portugal forward Diogo Jota during Al-Hilal’s 6-0 win over Al-Taawon; the footage appeared online over the weekend.
The Saudi soccer federation said fans had "chanted phrases and slogans that violated" its ethics, and the material circulating online appeared to capture Portugal international Ruben Neves reacting during the match.
Al-Taawon was fined 100,000 Saudi Riyals (around $26,700) and has been instructed to stage its next two home matches without spectators; the governing body said the decision could not be appealed.
Liverpool striker Jota and his brother André Silva were killed in a car accident in Spain in July 2025.
Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, a teammate of Jota’s, called for lifetime bans for fans involved in the chants. “The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behaviour,” the Al-Nassr forward commented on a video of the incident on Instagram. ”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 fans showed their support for Neves in the club’s match against Al-Gharafa on Tuesday (September 15, 2026), holding up cards that made up a giant number eight and a banner which read "Together beyond football." Neves scored a penalty in the 2-1 win.
The federation’s sanctions — a 100,000 Saudi Riyal fine and two home matches behind closed doors — will apply to Al-Taawon’s next designated home fixtures and, the governing body said, cannot be appealed.
