Ronaldo demands lifetime bans over Jota chants
September 13, 2026 13:46
Cristiano Ronaldo has called for lifetime stadium bans for fans who chanted the name of the late Diogo Jota towards Portugal team-mate Rúben Neves during a Saudi Pro League match. The incident occurred as Neves was playing for Al-Hilal in their 6-0 victory over Al-Taawoun, when sections of the crowd repeatedly shouted "Jota" in Neves’s direction.
Video from the game shows Neves sarcastically applauding those fans, pointing to the sky and looking towards them. After the match he criticised the behaviour, saying he hoped those people would not later go to pray.
KEY CONTEXT
- Diogo Jota, a former Wolves player who joined Liverpool in 2020, died in a car crash in the Spanish province of Zamora in July last year; his brother André Silva also died in that crash.
- Jota was 28 when he died. He scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool and made his Portugal debut in 2019, finishing with 14 goals in 49 international appearances.
- Neves and Jota were close friends and former Wolves team-mates; Neves now wears Portugal’s number 21 in Jota’s memory and has a tattoo of the two players embracing.
- Ronaldo, who also plays in the Saudi Pro League for Al-Nassr, said the league must act and punish those fans, arguing they should be permanently banned from stadiums.
WHY IT MATTERS
The episode highlights tensions around how supporters behave towards players with personal grief linked to a recent high-profile death. It has prompted one of the league’s most prominent players to demand strong disciplinary measures, putting pressure on Saudi football authorities to respond. The atmosphere and conduct of crowds can affect player welfare and the reputation of competitions, particularly when incidents involve international team-mates and well-known figures.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Whether the Saudi Pro League or the clubs involved announce any sanctions, investigations or changes to match-day security or stewarding.
- Any formal statements from Al-Hilal, Al-Taawoun or league authorities addressing the chants and Ronaldo’s call for lifetime stadium bans.
- Potential reactions from players, clubs or supporters’ groups that could influence how similar incidents are handled going forward.
KEY FACTS
- The chants targeted Rúben Neves during Al-Hilal’s 6-0 win over Al-Taawoun in the Saudi Pro League.
- Cristiano Ronaldo publicly urged lifetime bans for those responsible and called on the league to take action.
- Video shows Neves reacting by sarcastically applauding, pointing to the sky and looking toward the fans.
- Neves wears Portugal’s number 21 and has a tattoo commemorating his friendship with the late Diogo Jota.
- Diogo Jota died in a car crash in Zamora, Spain, in July last year; he scored 65 goals in 182 Liverpool appearances and had 14 goals in 49 games for Portugal.