Saudi Pro League Al-Taawoun have been handed a two-match stadium ban after a group of their fans shamefully taunted Ruben Neves with chants about his late friend Diogo Jota.
The club will play their next two home fixtures behind closed doors and they have also been ordered to pay a fine of 100,000 Saudi Riyals (£20,000).
The ban comes after footage shared on social media showed Al-Taawoun supporters repeatedly chanting Jota’s name in the direction of Neves, during their 6-0 defeat to Al-Hilal.
Neves, who was a close friend and former team-mate of Jota at Wolves and for Portugal, appeared to signal to the fans that ‘God is watching’ in response.
He pointed first to the sky, then to his eyes and finally in their direction. The Portuguese star could be seen repeating the gesture before returning to the game.
Cristiano Ronaldo furiously called for the spectators who mocked Jota’s passing to be handed a lifetime ban.
Ruben Neves was targeted by groups of Al-Taawoun supporters who chanted the name of his late team-mate Diogo Jota during a Saudi Pro League match on Saturday
Neves appeared to signal to the fans that ‘God is watching’, as he pointed first to the sky, then to his eyes and finally in their direction
Portugal captain Ronaldo posted on Instagram on Sunday: ‘The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behavior.
‘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 briefly referenced the incident after Al-Hilal recorded a 6-0 victory over Al-Taawoun, as he quickly walked through the mixed zone post-match.
‘I hope they don’t go to prayer later,’ Neves told reporters, appearing to contrast the behaviour of the fans with religious teachings.
Jota and his brother Andre Silva died in a car crash in northern Spain in July 2025. The former Liverpool forward was just 28 years old.
Neves had been Jota’s best friend after the days playing together at Wolves and with the national team. The midfielder was one of the pallbearers at his funeral.
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How should football leagues handle fans who cross the line with deeply personal taunts?
Jota tragically died at the age of 28 in July last year following a car crash in Spain
Neves and Jota were close friends and played alongside each other on 164 occasions
Cristiano Ronaldo furiously called for the chanting spectators to be handed lifetime bans
The 29-year-old revealed last year that he had a new leg tattoo of him hugging his late team-mate in an emotional tribute, while Portugal decided Neves should wear Jota’s No21 shirt, which he also dons for Al-Hilal.
Neves has also been a constant figure of support for Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso, who had married the star just 11 days before the tragic car accident.
Saudi Arabian international Saleh Abu Al-Shamat, who plays for Al-Ahli, also labelled the chants as ‘wrong and unacceptable’ in a social media post.
‘I wanted to draw attention to something we all witnessed today. I felt it was my duty – as a Muslim – to share this and raise awareness,’ Abu Al-Shamat wrote on Instagram.
‘No one is perfect, of course, but regarding the actions of some Al-Taawoun fans during the match against Al-Hilal: this isn’t just about our club; it concerns our great religion, Islam.
‘No matter how intense the rivalry or the situation, we should never stoop to gloating over the dead, engaging in slander, or attacking people’s families or the deceased.
‘We live in an Islamic country, and it is our duty to show the world what Islam truly represents—a religion of love, tolerance, and respect. I hope we can leverage the massive attention our league is receiving to project the best possible image of Islam.
‘By doing so, we might foster goodwill and help others learn about our faith. That is the message I wanted to convey; I felt a personal obligation, as a Muslim living in this great Islamic nation, to speak out against what is happening—because it is wrong and unacceptable.’
