Cristiano Ronaldo has called for lifetime stadium bans after supporters repeatedly chanted the name of late Portugal star Diogo Jota at his close friend Ruben Neves.
The disturbing incident occurred during Al Hilal’s 6-0 Saudi Pro League victory over Al Taawoun on Saturday, with a section of supporters repeatedly shouting “Jota” at Neves during the match.
Jota, the former Liverpool and Wolves forward, died alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in Spain last July. He was just 28.
For Neves, the chants were particularly painful. The midfielder shared a close friendship with Jota and played alongside him at Wolves and for Portugal. He has continued to honour his former team-mate, wearing the No 21 shirt for Portugal in his memory and having a tattoo depicting the pair embracing.
Neves was visibly affected by the incident but responded by sarcastically applauding the supporters before pointing towards the sky.
His response after the final whistle was even more direct.
“I just hope they don’t go to pray later after what they did.”
The incident quickly drew widespread condemnation, with Ronaldo among the biggest names to demand action.
The Al Nassr captain took to social media to make his position clear, insisting there should be serious consequences for supporters who cross the line.
“The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behaviour,” Ronaldo wrote.
“This is no longer football, and there have to be limits. People who behave like this should never be allowed to enter a stadium again.”
Ronaldo’s comments came as the Saudi football authorities moved to investigate what happened. Al Hilal and Al Taawoun both condemned the behaviour, while the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and Saudi Pro League released a joint statement.
The governing bodies described the conduct as “inconsistent with the values of Saudi football and the principles of sportsmanship”, while stressing that personal tragedies should never be used as a weapon to abuse or provoke another person.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation also confirmed that its relevant committees had identified the incident and launched an investigation.
The controversy has placed the spotlight on the boundaries of football rivalry, particularly when grief and personal tragedy become part of supporter abuse.
For Neves, the connection with Jota goes far beyond football. The pair shared important moments at club and international level, making the chants an especially personal attack.
Jota’s legacy at Liverpool also remains significant. He joined the club from Wolves in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances. At international level, he found the net 14 times in 49 appearances for Portugal after making his debut in 2019.
Portugal also honoured Jota during the World Cup on the one-year anniversary of his passing, underlining the lasting impact he had on his team-mates and country.
Now, attention turns to the outcome of the Saudi investigation.
Ronaldo wants the strongest possible punishment. The authorities have already confirmed that the incident is being examined, and the eventual decision could send a clear message about how far football rivalry can go before it crosses an unacceptable line.
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