Ronaldo demands bans over Diogo Jota chants at Neves

Fans chanted Diogo Jota’s name at Ruben Neves during Al Taawon’s 6-0 thrashing of Al-Hilal. Cristiano Ronaldo demanded lifetime bans for the supporters.

Supporters repeatedly shouted "Jota, Jota, Jota" at Neves during a break in play, an apparent attempt to unsettle the midfielder. Neves reacted by pointing to the sky and then to his own eyes. Al-Hilal won the match 6-0.

Asked about the chants afterwards, Neves gave a pointed response.

«I hope they don't go to prayer later. The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behaviour,».

Ronaldo, now with Al-Nassr and Neves's international team-mate, took to Instagram to press the league to act.

"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."

Jota died in a car crash in Spain in July 2025. Ronaldo wore a shirt bearing Jota's old international number, 21, after Portugal's World Cup round-of-32 win over Croatia. Neves, who played alongside Jota for both Portugal and Wolves, has a tattoo of the pair on his left calf and served as a pallbearer at his funeral.

Saleh Abu Al-Shamat, Al-Ahli’s forward, also condemned the chants, citing his duty as a Muslim to speak out and calling the abuse of the dead unacceptable "however fierce the rivalry".

Abu Al-Shamat plays for Al-Ahli, one of Al Taawon's rivals in the league. He posted his reaction on social media the same evening, explaining why he had chosen to speak publicly.