Ruben Neves was targeted with chants of his late friend Diogo Jota's name by Al Taawoun supporters during Al Hilal's Saudi Pro League match, and the Portuguese midfielder reacted angrily, first during the game and then in comments to reporters after the final whistle.

The incident happened during a stoppage in play, when a section of the home support began chanting Jota's name at Neves. The chants were captured on video and quickly spread on social media, with one clip reportedly receiving more than 4.4 million views.

Neves responded by turning toward the supporters and applauding sarcastically. He then pointed toward the sky before continuing with the game.

The midfielder later explained the gesture when speaking to reporters after the match.

Why The Jota Chants Were Aimed Directly At Ruben Neves

Neves and Jota were close friends after playing together at Wolverhampton Wanderers and for Portugal.

Their friendship made the chants particularly personal for Neves, especially following Jota's death. Jota died in July 2025 in a car accident in northwestern Spain that also killed his brother, André Silva.

The loss was one Neves has spoken about publicly on more than one occasion, describing a friendship he has repeatedly characterised as closer than that of ordinary teammates, something closer to family.

Chanting Jota's name at Neves, in that context, was always going to land differently than it might with another player. That history helps explain why Neves reacted strongly to the chants during the match.

What Ruben Neves Said About Al Taawoun's Fans After The Match

Asked about the incident after the match, Neves initially chose not to discuss it. He eventually responded with a brief remark about the Al Taawoun supporters: "I hope Al-Taawoun's fans do not go to prayer." He did not elaborate further on the incident after making the remark.

No further comment has followed from Neves since his mixed-zone remarks. Neither Al Taawoun nor the Saudi Pro League has issued a statement about the chants or indicated whether any action will be taken against the supporters involved.

For now, Neves' comments remain the only public response from those directly involved in the incident.