Cristiano Ronaldo has urged Saudi football authorities to impose lifetime stadium bans on supporters who targeted Portugal team-mate Ruben Neves with chants about his late friend Diogo Jota.
The incident took place before Al-Hilal’s 6-0 Saudi Pro League victory over Al-Taawoun on Saturday, when a section of supporters repeatedly shouted Jota’s name towards Neves.
Jota, who died in a car crash in Spain in July 2025 alongside his brother Andre Silva, had been especially close to Neves. The pair played together at Wolverhampton Wanderers and for Portugal, while Neves now wears the national team’s number 21 shirt in Jota’s memory. He also has a tattoo showing the two players embracing.
Ronaldo, who represents Al-Nassr in the same league, responded publicly after footage of the incident circulated online. He called for firm disciplinary action and argued that supporters who use personal tragedy to abuse players should be permanently barred from football stadiums.
Video from the match showed Neves applauding sarcastically towards the section involved before pointing towards the sky. After the game, the midfielder strongly criticised those responsible for the chanting.
Both clubs later condemned the behaviour. Al-Hilal said personal attacks directed at players or their families were unacceptable, while Al-Taawoun stressed that the conduct did not reflect the club, its wider support or its values.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation and Saudi Pro League also issued a joint response on Sunday, saying the behaviour was incompatible with the standards expected in Saudi football. They said personal tragedies must not be used as a means of provocation or abuse.
The SAFF confirmed that the relevant disciplinary bodies had identified the incident and opened an investigation.
Jota was 28 when he died. He joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club. At international level, he made his Portugal debut in 2019 and recorded 14 goals in 49 matches.
Ronaldo played alongside both Jota and Neves for Portugal and has now called for the Saudi authorities to ensure similar incidents are met with severe punishment.