Harsh punishment after Jota chants! Al-Taawoun hit with stadium closure
Saudi football has now turned condemnation into a concrete sanction.
Details: The Saudi Arabian Football Federation's Disciplinary and Ethics Committee has punished Al-Taawoun over the conduct of their supporters during the Saudi Pro League match against Al Hilal. The club was fined 100,000 Saudi riyals and ordered to play its next two home league matches without spectators, with the stadium completely closed to fans.
The punishment relates to the September 12 meeting between Al-Taawoun and Al Hilal, which the visitors won 6-0. During the game, a section of the home crowd repeatedly chanted the name of the late Diogo Jota towards Rúben Neves, his close friend and former teammate at Wolverhampton and with the Portugal national team.
The Saudi federation and the Saudi Pro League had already issued a joint statement condemning the incident, stressing that exploiting personal tragedies for abuse or provocation has no place in Saudi football. The disciplinary committee subsequently found Al-Taawoun's supporters in breach of Article 51-2 and increased the punishment under Article 39-4. The ruling is not subject to appeal.
Cristiano Ronaldo was among those who publicly demanded strong action following the chants. It is worth noting that Jota died alongside his brother André Silva in a car crash in Spain in July 2025. Neves was one of the pallbearers at his funeral after the pair had shared the dressing room for both Wolverhampton and Portugal.
Reminder: Official response: Saudi football cracks down on shameful chants about the late Jota
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
