Saudi club handed two-game stadium ban and fined after Diogo Jota chants taunting Ruben Neves
Saudi football authorities have sanctioned a club following a complaint over taunts referencing the death of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident in July 2025. The chants, aimed at Al-Hilal captain Ruben Neves — a close friend and former Wolves teammate of Jota — were deemed offensive and in breach of fan-conduct regulations. The club will play its next two home matches behind closed doors and has been hit with a fine. The case has drawn attention to the line between passionate support and personal abuse in the Saudi league, which has attracted several high-profile Portuguese-speaking players in recent seasons.
Read the full story at nytimes.comMore than a year on from the tragic death of Diogo Jota, the incident underlines how grief in football can be weaponised by rival fans, and how leagues are increasingly willing to act decisively when that line is crossed. For Ruben Neves and Al-Hilal, the ruling is a small but meaningful signal that authorities will not tolerate targeting players over personal tragedies. For the offending club, losing home support for two matches is a tangible competitive penalty at a time when the Saudi Pro League is competing for credibility and global attention.
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Data source: nytimes.com (via Socc360). Last updated .
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