Two home matches behind closed doors and a 100,000 Saudi riyal (£20,000) fine. That is the punishment handed to Al-Taawoun after their supporters taunted Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves over the death of Diogo Jota, his close friend and former Wolves team-mate. The Liverpool forward died in a car crash in July 2025 at the age of 28, and his loss is still felt across the Premier League.
What Al-Taawoun have been punished for
Saudi Pro League side Al-Taawoun have been ordered to play their next two home league matches behind closed doors and fined 100,000 riyals after fans directed chants at Ruben Neves about the death of Diogo Jota. The ruling was confirmed on Wednesday, 17 September 2026.
It is one of the harshest supporter-related sanctions handed down in the Saudi Pro League, a competition that has spent heavily to sign players from the Premier League, including Neves himself, who joined Al-Hilal from Wolves in 2023.
Neves and Jota: a friendship forged at Molineux
Diogo Jota and Ruben Neves played together at Wolverhampton Wanderers, helping the club win promotion to the Premier League in 2018 and reach the Europa League quarter-finals in 2020. They were also team-mates for Portugal, winning the Nations League together.
Jota died alongside his brother Andre Silva when their car crashed in Spain on 3 July 2025, just weeks after he lifted the Premier League title with Liverpool and days after his wedding. Neves was a pallbearer at the funeral in Gondomar, now wears Jota’s number 21 shirt for Portugal, and has a tattoo on his calf of the pair embracing. Liverpool retired Jota’s number 20 across all levels of the club.
How English football has handled tragedy chanting
The Premier League and FA have taken an increasingly hard line on so-called tragedy chanting. Since 2023, chants mocking disasters such as Hillsborough and Munich have been treated as a specific offence, with supporters handed banning orders and criminal charges.
Jota’s death prompted tributes across the Premier League, with a minute’s silence at pre-season fixtures and Liverpool fans laying flowers outside Anfield. The Al-Taawoun ruling shows Saudi authorities are following a similar path in punishing clubs whose fans cross that line.
FAQ
Why were Al-Taawoun given a stadium ban?
Their supporters taunted Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves with chants about the death of Diogo Jota. The club must play two home league matches behind closed doors and pay a 100,000 riyal fine.
How were Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota connected?
They were team-mates at Wolverhampton Wanderers and for Portugal. Neves now wears Jota’s number 21 shirt for Portugal and has a tattoo in his memory.
When did Diogo Jota die?
The Liverpool forward died in a car crash in Spain on 3 July 2025, aged 28, alongside his brother Andre Silva.
How much were Al-Taawoun fined?
100,000 Saudi riyals, roughly £20,000, in addition to the two-match closed-doors order.
Did Liverpool retire Diogo Jota’s shirt number?
Yes. Liverpool retired the number 20 shirt across all levels of the club in his honour.
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