Saudi club hit with stadium ban, fine over Jota chants

Vanguard News | 16-09-2026 09:46pm |

Saudi Pro League club Al-Taawoun have been ordered to play their next two home league matches behind closed doors and fined 100,000 Saudi Riyals over offensive chants directed at Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves. The chants referenced Diogo Jota, Neves' late friend and former team-mate, during Al-Taawoun's 6-0 defeat by Al-Hilal on Saturday. The incident drew widespread condemnation from Saudi football authorities, both clubs and Cristiano Ronaldo. Jota, a former Liverpool and Portugal forward, died alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in Spain in July 2025 at the age of 28.

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