Cristiano Ronaldo has called for lifetime stadium bans following offensive fan chants referencing the late Diogo Jota during a Saudi Pro League match between Al-Hilal and Al-Taawoun.
Cristiano Ronaldo has called for lifetime football stadium bans for fans who directed chants referencing the late Diogo Jota at Ruben Neves during a Saudi Pro League match on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
The incident occurred in Buraidah, Saudi Arabia, during Al-Hilal's 6-0 win against Al-Taawoun, in which Neves played 75 minutes before being substituted. Video footage shared on social media showed fans chanting 'Jota', leading Neves to point to his eye and then toward the sky. In the mixed zone following the match, Neves commented, "I hope they don't go to pray afterwards."
Jota passed away on July 3, 2025, in a car crash in Zamora, northwestern Spain, alongside his brother Andre Silva. Neves was a close friend and served as a pallbearer at Jota's funeral.
Responding to an Instagram post featuring the footage on Sunday, September 13, 2026, Ronaldo stated: "The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behaviour. 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."
On Sunday, Al-Hilal Club Company announced it had submitted a complaint to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, expressing confidence that steps would be taken to protect sporting integrity and rejecting actions targeting players or their families. Al-Taawoun also released a statement strongly condemning the chants as "completely unacceptable" and confirmed they will coordinate with authorities to hold those responsible accountable.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Football. Photo courtesy The Hindu Football.