Al Taawoun face stadium closure, fine over ‘Jota’ chants by fans

Saudi Pro League side Al Taawoun have been asked by the country’s football body to play their next two home matches behind ⁠⁠closed doors and have been handed a fine of 100,000 riyals (£26,660) after supporters chanted the name of the ⁠⁠late Portugal forward Diogo Jota during their match against Al Hilal. The Saudi ‌‌Arabian Football Federation’s (SAFF) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee announced the sanctions on Al Taawoun ⁠⁠on ⁠⁠Tuesday, three days after Taawoun fans appeared to make chants referencing ⁠⁠⁠⁠Jota at Ruben Neves during the Saudi Pro League match. Al Hilal midfielder Neves was a close friend ‌‌and former teammate of Jota, who died in a car crash in Spain last year alongside his brother Andre Silva.