Saudi Club Al-Taawoun Ordered to Play Two Matches Behind Closed Doors Over Neves Chants

Saudi Pro League club Al-Taawoun has been ordered to play two matches without spectators after fans reportedly directed chants at Ruben Neves referencing the death of his close friend and former Portugal teammate Diogo Jota, BBC Sport reported.

According to the report, the taunts occurred during a match involving Al-Taawoun and were aimed at Neves, who now plays in the Saudi Pro League. The chants referenced Jota's death, prompting disciplinary action against the club.

BBC Sport said the punishment requires Al-Taawoun to play its next two home fixtures behind closed doors as a result of the incident.

Diogo Jota, a Portuguese international, died earlier this year. Neves and Jota had been teammates for Portugal and were known to be close friends, according to BBC Sport.

The BBC Sport report did not provide further details on which specific matches will be affected by the closed-doors sanction or the governing body responsible for imposing the punishment.

EGazette has reached out for additional context and will update this report as more information becomes available.