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Fans of Saudi Pro League side Al-Taawoun have received a two-match stadium ban, while the club have been hit with a 100,000 riyal (£19,800) fine after supporters were heard tragedy chanting about the late forward Diogo Jota.
The horrendous chanting took place during Al-Taawoun's showdown against Al-Hilal on Saturday, directed at Jota's former Wolves and Portugal teammate Ruben Neves, who was seen gesturing towards the sky in response.
Al-Taawoun's tragedy chanting conjures outrage, criticism from Cristiano Ronaldo
Football chants often include attempts at banter between rival sets of supporters, but tragedy chanting goes far beyond that, and is a line that draws ire when crossed.
In the aftermath of the incident, Al-Taawoun released a statement that said: “Such behaviour is completely unacceptable and does not represent the club, its fans, or the values for which the club is known.
“Sports competition cannot be a justification for insulting, belittling, or bullying others at the expense of anyone's feelings.”
However, the club's official words will do little to quell the noise, including from Cristiano Ronaldo, the Saudi Pro League's most prominent star.
The Portugal icon posted on Instagram that “The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behaviour,” going on to state his position that “People who behave like this should never be allowed to enter a stadium again.”
It remains to be seen what – if any – further punishment might take place, but many have argued that a two-game stadium ban and a near-£20,000 fine is too light for the severity of the offence.
Diogo Jota memory maintained by Ruben Neves and footballing world
The tragic deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva last year spawned an outpouring of emotion throughout the footballing world.
Neves was the target of the taunting at the weekend, a man who wears the number 21 jersey for Portugal in memory of Jota, and has a tattoo of his former teammate on his calf.
The midfielder did not let the tragedy chanting impact his performance, going on to help Al-Hilal demolish Al-Taawoun 6-0, and remained composed in his response, simply stating, “I just hope they don't go to pray later after what they did.”
In the Premier League, Liverpool have installed a memorial outside Anfield that is a regular spot for fans to visit on matchdays, while supporters are known to clap in the 20th minute of matches to pay their respects to Jota.
FGG Says: Al-Taawoun fans bring more negative press to Saudi Pro League
Since gaining greater mindshare in the footballing world earlier this decade – thanks to significant investment from the state – the perception of the Saudi Pro League has been heavily marred by allegations of sportswashing.
An influx of English stars such as Ollie Watkins this summer, and the inclusion of the likes of Ivan Toney in England's World Cup squad, could have marked the beginning of a shift in attitude towards the division, but this awful story has caught the attention of fans around the globe.