Al-Taawoun will lose live attendance for two Saudi Pro League home fixtures and pay 100,000 riyals (£19,800) after the Saudi Football Federation imposed sanctions over chants referencing the late Diogo Jota.
The federation's disciplinary committee found that phrases shouted by Al-Taawoun supporters breached its ethics rules and applied an increased penalty under rule (39-4). The punishment requires the club to stage its next two home league matches without spectators and to settle the 100,000 riyals fine.
The incident occurred during Saturday's match against Al-Hilal, when audible calls of "Jota" came from sections of the Al-Taawoun crowd. Al-Hilal midfielder Rúben Neves, who shared club and international ties with Jota and acted as a pallbearer at his funeral, was shown gesturing to the sky during the episode.
Diogo Jota died in July 2025 along with his brother, André Silva, following a car crash in Spain. The chants prompted criticism across the Saudi game, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for rival club Al-Nassr, publicly urged lifetime stadium bans for those responsible.
The federation's ruling traces the behaviour to specific disciplinary provisions and moves beyond a simple fine by removing fans from two matchdays. For Al-Taawoun the immediate effects are lost ticket income, reduced matchday atmosphere for the team and the short-term reputational cost of a public sanction. For players and visiting teams, the decision reduces the potential for repeated incidents at the same venue.
There was no indication in the federation statement of further punishments for individuals, nor of any immediate appeal by Al-Taawoun. The case increases scrutiny on crowd conduct in the Saudi Pro League and signals that governing authorities will apply formal sanctions when chants reference highly sensitive recent events involving players.
