'Have Some Humanity': Diogo Jota Chant Scandal Exposes Saudi Pro League's Growing Pains Ahead of World Cup 2026

When Cristiano Ronaldo joined the Saudi Pro League, the kingdom's multi-billion-pound football project finally captured the global audience it craved. But as The Guardian reports, that spotlight cuts both ways — a lesson delivered in the most distasteful circumstances imaginable. During Al-Hilal's 6-0 demolition of Al-Taawoun on Saturday evening, a section of home supporters directed chants about the late Diogo Jota at Rúben Neves, the Al-Hilal and Portugal midfielder who was a close friend and international teammate of the forward, who died in a car accident in July. The chants — described as being in the worst possible taste — came as Al-Taawoun fans processed a rout inflicted by Al-Hilal's £150m-plus forward line, with Ollie Watkins and Gabriel Martinelli scoring five goals between them. The following day, Ronaldo took to Instagram to address his 680 million followers about the incident, instantly propelling the story far beyond Saudi Arabia's borders. It was a stark illustration of the double-edged sword the league now wields: the same visibility that celebrates his milestones — Ronaldo sits just 21 goals shy of a remarkable 1,000 for his career — also broadcasts every controversy, every failure, every moment demanding leadership. And leadership is precisely what critics say has been lacking. There is a growing feeling, The Guardian notes, that the league was too lenient in punishing those responsible for the chants. Europe's established leagues have spent decades calibrating responses to supporter misconduct; the Saudi Pro League, still finding its feet amid unprecedented spending, appears to have misjudged the moment — and the world was watching. The timing could hardly be more sensitive for Portugal. Roberto Martínez's squad will travel to the 2026 World Cup carrying the memory of Jota, whose death at 28 stunned world football just a year before the tournament. Neves remains a cornerstone of that midfield, while Ronaldo is expected to spearhead the attack in what will almost certainly be his final World Cup. Every controversy involving Portugal's stars now plays out against the backdrop of next summer's tournament in North America. The Saudi Pro League has, in effect, become a staging ground for World Cup-bound talent, with dozens of internationals preparing for 2026 on Saudi soil. How the competition handles moments of crisis — tragedy-related abuse chief among them — will shape global perceptions of the entire enterprise. Football, as the backlash has made clear, owes Jota's memory some humanity. This, ultimately, is the wake-up call. Billions can buy stars and viewers, but credibility is earned through how a league responds when the game's darkest moments arrive. On this evidence, the Saudi Pro League still has lessons to learn — and with the World Cup 2026 spotlight approaching, less time than ever to learn them.