Ruben Neves condemns fans over Diogo Jota chants

Ruben Neves condemned some Al-Taawoun supporters after they chanted the name of his late friend Diogo Jota during Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League victory. The incident occurred during a stoppage in Saturday evening’s seventh-round match and left the Portuguese international visibly distressed.

Al-Hilal won 6-0 at the club from Buraydah, yet the emphatic scoreline did not remove the focus from the supporters’ conduct. Neves first answered by applauding and raising his thumb towards the stand. He then pointed upwards and signalled that the fans’ behaviour was being seen.

The former Wolverhampton player was still angry after the final whistle. Passing journalists, the 69-cap Portugal international expressed the hope that those involved would reflect on their actions before praying. His reaction made clear that the chants had been taken as a personal insult rather than ordinary match provocation.

Jota, a former Liverpool forward, died with his brother André Silva in a car accident on July 3, 2025. The death prompted widespread emotion across football and had a particularly deep effect on Neves. The two Portuguese players formed a close friendship during their time at Wolverhampton from 2017 to 2020, making the Al-Taawoun incident especially painful for the Al-Hilal midfielder. The result strengthened Al-Hilal’s position after the seventh round, but the controversy surrounding Jota’s name became the defining issue for Neves.