Saudi Pro League condemns chants about Diogo Jota’s death

The Saudi Football Federation and the Saudi Pro League have condemned chants directed at Ruben Neves and referring to the death of his former team-mate and close friend Diogo Jota. The chants were heard during Al-Taawoun’s 0-6 defeat by Al-Hilal in the seventh round of the Saudi Pro League at the weekend. The joint condemnation described the conduct as “unacceptable practices” that conflict with the values and principles of Saudi football.

The incident occurred as Neves prepared to take a free-kick. The 29-year-old Portugal midfielder responded by raising his thumb and applauding towards the stands before pointing a finger towards the sky. After the match, he said: “I hope they simply do not go to pray after what they did.” His reaction followed chants that brought Jota’s death into a football setting, despite the personal loss connecting the two players.

Jota died aged 28 in July 2025 in a car accident that also killed his brother. Neves was among the former Liverpool forward’s closest friends and carried his coffin at his funeral. Their relationship also extended to the Portugal national team, where both players represented their country. The reference to Jota therefore targeted a subject tied directly to Neves’s private life as well as to the memory of a recently deceased footballer.

The federation and the league did not treat the episode as ordinary rivalry between supporters. Their statement condemned practices that breach the standards expected in the Saudi competition. The response came after the match and after the chants had drawn public attention, placing the incident within wider efforts to establish conduct rules as the league attracts global players and international scrutiny.

Al-Hilal also issued a strong response. The club said it categorically rejected such behaviour, particularly when it involved players or their families or sought to attack them personally. It confirmed that it had filed a complaint with the federation to protect the rights of the club and its players. The complaint gives the authorities a formal matter to examine, although no disciplinary decision has been announced in the material available.

Cristiano Ronaldo also condemned the chants on Sunday. The Al-Nassr captain is a Portugal team-mate of Neves and spoke against what he described as collective, offensive and unacceptable chanting that ran contrary to his values. He said supporters who took part should never again be allowed to enter a stadium. His intervention widened the reaction beyond Al-Hilal and Neves, adding the voice of one of the most prominent figures in Saudi football.

The match itself produced a decisive result, with Al-Hilal winning 6-0 away from the controversy. The incident nevertheless became the defining part of the seventh-round fixture because it concerned a death outside football and a player’s personal grief. Al-Hilal’s statement also made clear that the club viewed attacks involving families and personal circumstances as a separate issue from normal criticism or rivalry in the stands.

The episode comes as Saudi Arabia uses football as a central part of its effort to diversify an economy still heavily dependent on oil. The country will host the 2034 World Cup and has invested nearly two billion dollars in football over three years, while bringing players including Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema to the Saudi Pro League. The federation’s condemnation, the league’s joint statement and Al-Hilal’s complaint now leave the authorities to determine any further action over the chants.