Cristiano Ronaldo has called for lifetime bans on fans who directed chants referencing the late Diogo Jota at Rúben Neves during a Saudi Pro League match on Saturday. The incident took place in Buraydah during a game between Al-Taawoun and Al-Hilal, the latter being Neves’ team.
Footage circulating on social media showed supporters of Al-Taawoun chanting "Jota" repeatedly as a taunt aimed at Neves, who was visibly affected by the chants. Neves, a midfielder for Al-Hilal, responded by pointing to the sky, shaking his head, and sarcastically applauding the crowd. The chants referenced Jota, a former teammate of Neves at Wolverhampton Wanderers who died in a car accident in Spain in July 2025, aged 28. Neves had been one of the pallbearers at Jota’s funeral and has since vowed to maintain close ties with Jota’s family.
Following Al-Hilal’s 6-0 victory over Al-Taawoun, Neves commented on the incident, expressing hope that those fans would not attend prayers later, reflecting his disapproval of their behavior. The match also saw Neves contribute an assist for Ollie Watkins and featured a hat-trick from Gabriel Martinelli, helping Al-Hilal maintain a strong position at the top of the league with six wins from seven games.
Ronaldo, who has played alongside Jota at club level, publicly condemned the chants on Instagram, emphasizing that such conduct is unacceptable in football. He urged the league to take stringent measures against fans exhibiting this behavior, stating that those involved should be permanently barred from entering stadiums. "This is no longer football and there have to be limits," he wrote, calling for decisive action to prevent such incidents in the future.
The incident has drawn attention to fan conduct in the Saudi Pro League and the need for stronger enforcement of codes of behavior at matches. While some supporters may view chanting as part of football culture, the targeting of Neves over the memory of a deceased former teammate has sparked wide condemnation from players and observers alike.