Ronaldo calls for life bans of Saudi Pro League fans after Jota chants

What the report says

Cristiano Ronaldo has called for lifetime stadium bans for fans involved in chants aimed at Ruben Neves during a Saudi Pro League match, after footage circulated online appearing to show supporters repeatedly saying the name of Neves’s late teammate, Diogo Jota. The incident took place on Saturday at a game between Al-Taawoun and Al-Hilal in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia, according to the report.

Al Jazeera, citing Reuters, said the chants appeared to be directed at Neves, who reacted during the match by pointing to his eye and then toward the sky. After the game, he suggested the behavior was unacceptable. Jota died in a car crash in Spain in July 2025, along with his brother Andre Silva, and Neves was one of the pallbearers at his funeral.

Ronaldo responded on Instagram, urging the league to act and saying people who behave in this way should not be allowed into stadiums again. Al-Hilal later said it had filed a complaint with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, while Al-Taawoun also condemned the chants and said it would work with authorities to prevent a repeat. The match ended in a 6-0 win for Al-Hilal, with Neves playing 75 minutes.

The episode has drawn attention because it involves harassment directed at a player in the context of a public memorial loss, and because both clubs are now pressing for formal action from Saudi football authorities.