Ruben Neves had little to complain about on the pitch as Al-Hilal stormed to a 6-0 victory, but the Portugal international was visibly angered by what happened in the stands.Neves was targeted by Al-Taawoun supporters during Saturday’s meeting in Buraidah, with fans chanting the name of his late friend and former Portugal team-mate Diogo Jota. The incident left the Al-Hilal midfielder furious, and he had a pointed response when he was approached after the final whistle.
Neves reacts after Al-Taawoun fans chant Jota ‘s name
Al-Hilal produced a dominant display in the seventh round of the Saudi Roshn League, sweeping aside Al-Taawoun 6-0 at the hosts’ stadium.Yet the result was overshadowed for Neves by an incident involving a group of Al-Taawoun supporters.A video shared on X by Aziz Al-Dahmashi appeared to show an altercation between Neves and fans during the match. The trouble flared after supporters began chanting Jota’s name, which appeared to provoke an angry response from the Portuguese midfielder.Neves was seen pointing towards the sky and telling the supporters: “God sees you.”When he later walked past the media after the match, he did not go into detail about the incident or single out any individual. Instead, he offered a brief response that made his feelings clear.“I hope they don’t go to prayer later after what they did,” Neves said.His remark appeared to be a direct condemnation of the use of Jota’s name during the match, contrasting the behaviour he had witnessed with religious and human values.Neves chose not to elaborate further, allowing those few words to speak for themselves.
Neves shared a deep bond with Liverpool icon Diogo Jota
The significance of the incident lies in the relationship Neves had with Jota, who died alongside his younger brother André Silva, a professional footballer who played for Penafiel in Portugal’s second division, in a tragic car accident in the Spanish region of Cernadilla in July last year.Their friendship began at Porto, where both players came through the club’s system before continuing their careers together at Wolverhampton Wanderers. They later shared the Portugal dressing room, remaining close as their careers developed at the highest level.Jota went on to become a hugely important figure for Liverpool after joining the club in 2020. His movement, pressing and instinctive finishing made him a key part of Jurgen Klopp’s attack, while his ability to score from difficult positions quickly made him a favourite at Anfield.He scored decisive goals in the Premier League and Champions League, helped Liverpool compete for major honours and became known for his intelligence inside the penalty area. Jota was not simply a squad player during his time on Merseyside; he was a forward trusted in the biggest matches and a player whose goals regularly changed the course of games.His importance to Liverpool was reflected in the affection shown by supporters, team-mates and staff following his death. Tributes poured in from across the football world, with the club and its fans mourning a player remembered not only for his performances but also for his character away from the pitch.Neves has spoken publicly on more than one occasion about the profound grief he experienced following Jota’s death. Their connection had been built over many years, through club football, international duty and a friendship that continued long after they stopped playing for the same team.That history made the chanting particularly painful for Neves, who appeared to view the use of Jota’s name as a deeply personal provocation rather than ordinary football banter.