Saudi Pro League club Al-Taawoun have been ordered to play their next two home league matches without supporters after sections of their crowd targeted Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves with chants referencing the death of Diogo Jota.
The club have also been fined 100,000 Saudi Riyals, approximately £20,000, following the incident.
The abuse took place before Al-Hilal’s 6-0 victory over Al-Taawoun on Saturday, with supporters repeatedly invoking Jota’s name in an apparent attempt to provoke Neves.
Jota, who played for Liverpool, died in a car crash aged 28 in July last year. He shared a close relationship with Neves after the pair played together at Wolverhampton Wanderers and for the Portugal national team.
Neves has since paid several personal tributes to his former team-mate. He wears Portugal’s number 21 shirt in Jota’s memory and has a tattoo depicting the two players embracing. He also served as a pallbearer at Jota’s funeral.
The Al-Hilal midfielder criticised the conduct of the supporters after the match, while Portugal and Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo later called for the fans involved to receive permanent stadium bans.
Al-Taawoun also condemned the incident, distancing the club from the behaviour and stressing that sporting rivalry should never be used as an excuse to mock personal grief or target individuals over traumatic events.
The punishment means Al-Taawoun will now stage two Saudi Pro League home fixtures behind closed doors in addition to paying the financial penalty.