Saudi football body vows action against Jota chants

Saudi Arabian football authorities have vowed to take action against fans who taunted Ruben Neves over the death of his friend and former teammate, Diogo Jota. Cristiano Ronaldo, a former Portuguese football star, called for life bans for those responsible for the abusive chants which occurred during Al-Hilal's 6-0 win over Al-Taawoun.

The chants were directed at Neves, who sarcastically gave a thumbs-up and applauded in response to the disrespectful behavior. Neves, a close friend of Jota, was a pallbearer at the latter's funeral. Both Jota and his brother Andre died in a car crash in Spain last year. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation and Saudi Pro League issued a joint statement condemning the "unacceptable conduct" of the fans, emphasizing that exploiting personal tragedies for abusive or provocative purposes has no place in the sport.

The statement noted that relevant committees have identified the misconduct and will take the necessary action in line with regulations and procedures. Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 World Cup, a major event in the country's efforts to diversify its oil-dependent economy and attract international football stars like Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema.