Cristiano Ronaldo calls for lifetime bans after Saudi fans taunt Ruben Neves over Diogo Jota death
Cristiano Ronaldo has publicly demanded lifetime bans for Saudi Pro League fans who taunted Ruben Neves by chanting the name of his late friend, Diogo Jota. The incident occurred during a match between Al-Hilal and Al-Taawoun, drawing widespread condemnation.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the intersection of fan behavior, professional sports ethics, and the influence of high-profile athletes in shaping league policies.
Cristiano Ronaldo has called on the Saudi Pro League to issue lifetime bans to fans who disgracefully taunted Ruben Neves by chanting the name of his late former team-mate and close friend Diogo Jota .
A video shared on social media showed Al-Taawoun supporters repeatedly shout "Jota, Jota, Jota" at Al-Hilal midfielder Neves during the clash to try and unsettle the Portuguese international.
During the incident, Neves reacted by pointing to the sky and then to his eyes, as if to tell the fans that "God is watching".
When asked about the chants after the game, which Al-Hilal emphatically won 6-0, Neves told reporters: "I hope they don't go to prayer later."
Ronaldo, the face of Saudi Arabia 's football project, then took to Instagram to furiously call out the fans who taunted Neves, demanding action from the SPL.
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