Saudi Club Al-Taawoun Fined, Given Stadium Ban for Chants Towards Ruben Neves
Supporters taunted Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves about the death of his friend Diogo Jota, leading to disciplinary action.
Saudi Pro League side Al-Taawoun has been ordered to play two home league matches behind closed doors and fined 100,000 Saudi Riyals (£20,000) after supporters taunted Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves. The chants targeted Neves regarding the death of his close friend and former teammate Diogo Jota.
Jota, a Liverpool forward, died in a car crash at the age of 28 in July of the previous year. He had played alongside Neves for Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Portuguese national team. Neves currently wears the number 21 shirt for Portugal in Jota's memory and has a tattoo of the two of them embracing.
During a match on Saturday, Al-Taawoun supporters repeatedly chanted "Jota" at Neves. Following the game, Neves expressed his disappointment, stating, "I just hope they don't go to pray later after what they did."
Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia and was a teammate of Jota, called for lifetime bans for the fans involved in the chanting.
In a statement, Al-Taawoun condemned the behavior, calling it "completely unacceptable" and stating it "does not represent the club, its fans, or the values for which the club is known." The club added that "Sports competition cannot be a justification for insulting, belittling, or bullying others at the expense of anyone's feelings."