Neves Angry Over Jota Chants From Al-Taawoun Fans

Neves Angered by Jota Chants From Al-Taawoun Fans

Rúben Neves was left furious after sections of the Al-Taawoun support repeatedly chanted the name of his late friend Diogo Jota during Al-Hilal's 6–0 Saudi Pro League victory on Saturday.

The Portuguese midfielder was targeted by the home supporters with chants of “Jota! Jota!”, referring to the former Liverpool and Portugal forward who died in a car accident in Spain in July 2025 alongside his brother, André Silva.

Neves, who was a close friend of Jota and had been deeply affected by his death, reacted angrily to the chants during the match.

The Al-Hilal midfielder appeared to gesture towards the sky and then towards the supporters, indicating that God was watching their behaviour. Reports also said Neves confronted the situation after the game and criticised the fans for using Jota's name in an attempt to provoke him.

“I just hope they don't go to pray later,” Neves said in reference to the supporters' actions.

The incident overshadowed an emphatic performance from Al-Hilal, who dismantled Al-Taawoun 6–0 in Buraidah.

Gabriel Martinelli scored three times to claim his first hat-trick for the Saudi club, while Ollie Watkins added two goals. Watkins also provided two assists, while Neves helped Al-Hilal open the scoring by supplying the assist for his teammate's ninth-minute goal.

Despite the heavy defeat, the most talked-about moment from the match came away from the football itself, with the chants directed at Neves drawing widespread criticism.

Jota's death remains an extremely sensitive subject for those who knew him, particularly his former Portugal teammates and close friends. Neves was among the players who attended his funeral in Portugal following the tragedy.

The incident has once again raised questions about where the line should be drawn when football rivalry and attempts to provoke opposing players involve deeply personal tragedies.