Play store
The Saudi football authorities have taken disciplinary action against Al-Taawoun following Cristiano Ronaldo’s strong protest over offensive behaviour by some of the club’s supporters.
During a recent Saudi Pro League match, a section of Al-Taawoun fans directed offensive chants at Portuguese midfielder Rúben Neves, referring to the death of his close friend and former teammate Diogo Jota in a road accident in July 2025.
Neves reacted angrily to the chants during the match. After footage of the incident spread on social media, Ronaldo publicly supported his Portugal teammate and called on the league authorities to take strict action.
In an Instagram post, Ronaldo said supporters who behaved in such an insensitive manner should not be allowed to enter football stadiums again and called for the offenders to be banned for life.
Following Ronaldo’s protest, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s Disciplinary and Ethics Committee fined Al-Taawoun 100,000 Saudi riyals (around Tk3.5 million).
The club has also been ordered to play its next two home matches behind closed doors. Al-Taawoun will therefore have no spectators at its stadium for its next two home fixtures.
Al-Nassr suffer heavy defeat as Ronaldo struggles
Meanwhile, Al-Nassr endured a nightmare start to their AFC Champions League Elite campaign, suffering a 4-0 defeat away to UAE club Al-Ain.
In Tuesday’s match at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al-Nassr struggled from the outset, with Ronaldo also failing to make an impact.
The 41-year-old forward managed just one shot on target throughout the match. Only one of his five attempts inside the opposition penalty area was on target, while he touched the ball just three times inside the box.
Al-Ain dominated the match, with Hussain Rahimi scoring twice.
Rahimi opened the scoring in the 25th minute after capitalising on Saad Al-Nasser’s misplaced back-pass and finding the net through goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi’s legs.
He doubled the lead in the 63rd minute with a shot from eight yards.
Al-Ain added a third when Hussain’s elder brother Sufian Rahimi controlled Alejandro Romero’s pass and fired into the net.
Greek forward Giorgos Giakoumakis completed the rout in the 85th minute, scoring from around 15 yards after receiving a pass from Sufian.
