Football

Al-Taawon Hit With Fine and Stadium Ban Following Offensive Fan Chants

  • Authored By: Sports Now
  • Updated Sep 17, 2026, 10:12 IST

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has sanctioned Al-Taawon with a 100,000 Riyal fine and a two-match home stadium ban after supporters were filmed chanting about the late Diogo Jota during a recent fixture.

Al-Taawon Hit With Fine and Stadium Ban Following Offensive Fan Chants

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has imposed significant sanctions on Al-Taawon following an investigation into offensive fan behavior during a recent match. The club has been ordered to pay a fine of 100,000 Saudi Riyals, equivalent to approximately $26,700, and must play its next two home fixtures behind closed doors.

The governing body confirmed that the disciplinary measures were taken after supporters were recorded chanting slogans that violated the federation's established ethics. The decision is final and not subject to any appeal process. The incident occurred during Al-Taawon's 6-0 defeat to Al-Hilal, where video footage captured Portugal international Ruben Neves reacting to chants directed at the late forward Diogo Jota.

Calls for Stricter Accountability

The incident drew sharp criticism from across the football community, most notably from Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portugal captain took to social media to condemn the actions of the supporters, explicitly calling for the league to implement lifetime bans for those involved in the chanting. Ronaldo emphasized that such behavior crosses a line, stating that individuals who engage in such conduct should be permanently barred from attending matches.

The tragedy involving Diogo Jota, who passed away alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car accident in Spain in July 2025, has remained a sensitive subject within the sport. Following the incident, Al-Hilal supporters demonstrated their solidarity with Ruben Neves during their subsequent match against Al-Gharafa. Fans displayed a banner reading “Together beyond football” and held up cards forming the number eight, representing Neves' shirt number. Neves later contributed to a 2-1 victory in that match by converting a penalty.