Cristiano Ronaldo called on the Saudi Pro League to issue lifetime stadium bans to fans who targeted Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves with chants referencing his late friend and former teammate Diogo Jota, according to reports by Yahoo Sports and Arab News.
Incident During Al-Hilal and Al-Taawoun Match
During the fixture between Al-Hilal and Al-Taawoun, supporters in the stands chanted the name “Jota” repeatedly at Ruben Neves to try and unsettle the Portuguese international, as reported by Yahoo Sports. Footage circulated on social media showed Neves reacting by pointing to the sky and to his eyes. Al-Hilal won the match 6-0, with Neves playing 75 minutes before being substituted, according to Arab News. Passing through the mixed zone after the final whistle, Neves told reporters, according to Arab News and Yahoo Sports, “I hope they don’t go to pray afterwards.” Diogo Jota tragically died alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in Zamora, Spain, on July 3, 2025. Neves, a close friend who shared the pitch with Jota for both Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Portugal national team, served as a pallbearer at Jota’s funeral and carries a tattoo of him on his left calf.
Cristiano Ronaldo Demands Lifetime Stadium Bans
Reacting to social media footage of the incident, Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo took to Instagram to demand severe punishments from league authorities, according to Yahoo Sports and Arab News. “The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behavior,” Ronaldo wrote on his personal account, as reported by Arab News. “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.” Saudi Arabian international Saleh Abu Al-Shamat also criticized the supporters on Instagram, stating that exploiting a personal tragedy goes against the teachings of Islam, according to Yahoo Sports.
Club and League Disciplinary Responses
Al-Hilal announced in an official website statement on Sunday that it filed a formal complaint with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, expressing absolute rejection of actions targeting players or their families, according to Arab News. Al-Taawoun subsequently released a statement strongly condemning the chants, calling the conduct completely unacceptable and pledging to work with authorities to hold offenders accountable, as reported by Arab News. In a joint statement, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and the Saudi Pro League stated that the supporters’ behavior was inconsistent with the values of Saudi football, adding that relevant committees have identified the conduct and will announce disciplinary actions in accordance with applicable regulations.
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