The Aporia · Al Taawoun face stadium closure, fine over ‘Jota’ chants by fans

Al Taawoun football club in Saudi Arabia has been sanctioned by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to play their next two home matches without fans after supporters chanted "Jota" during a match against Al Hilal, referencing the late Portuguese player Diogo Jota who died last year. The sanctions include a fine of 100,000 riyals ($26,640). This incident drew criticism from footballers and calls for strict action to curb inappropriate fan behavior at matches.

Written by AI on 2026-09-16, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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Al Taawoun, a Saudi Pro League side, faced disciplinary action after their supporters chanted the name of the late Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota during a match against Al Hilal. The Discipline and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) imposed sanctions on Al Taawoun on Tuesday, including playing their next two home matches behind closed doors and paying a fine of 100,000 riyals ($26,640). This incident occurred three days after videos circulated on social media showing fans chanting "Jota" during the match where Al Hilal won 6-0. Ruben Neves, an Al Hilal midfielder and close friend of Jota, reacted to the chants by pointing to his eye and then towards the sky, indicating frustration or sadness. The incident drew criticism from other players, including Cristiano Ronaldo of Al-Nassr, who urged for strong measures against such behavior.

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have been asked by the country’s football body to play their next two home matches behind closed doors and have been handed a fine of 100,000 riyals ($26,640) after supporters chanted the name of the late Portugal forward Diogo Jota during their match against Al Hilal. asserted

supporters → ask → Hilal

The Discipline and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced the sanctions on Al Taawoun on Tuesday, three days after Taawoun fans appeared to make chants referencing Jota at Ruben Neves during the Saudi Pro League match. asserted

fans → announce → match

Al Hilal midfielder Neves was a close friend and former teammate of Jota, who died in a car crash in Spain last year alongside his brother Andre Silva. asserted

who → die → brother

Videos circulated on social media appeared to show sections of the crowd chanting “Jota” during Al Hilal’s 6-0 win over Al Taawoun. asserted

sections → circulate → Taawoun

Neves reacted by pointing to his eye and then towards the sky before saying after the match: “I hope they don’t go to pray afterwards.” asserted

they → react → match

The chants sparked widespread criticism, including from Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who urged authorities to take strong action and called for the fans to be banned from football stadiums for life. asserted

fans → spark → life

In response to an Instagram post showing the footage, Ronaldo commented from his personal account. asserted

Ronaldo → show → account

“The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behaviour,” said the football superstar. asserted

superstar → take → behaviour

“This is no longer football, and there have to be limits. asserted

This → have → ?

People who behave like this should never be allowed to enter a stadium again.” asserted

who → behave → stadium

Al Hilal filed a complaint with SAFF, describing the chants as offensive and unacceptable, while Al Taawoun condemned the behaviour and said it did not represent the club or its supporters. asserted

it → file → club

Al Taawoun face stadium closure, fine over ‘Jota’ chants by fans

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