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Ronaldo calls for life bans of Saudi Pro League fans after Jota chants

Fans at Al-Taawoun and Al-Hilal game seem to taunt Ruben Neves by chanting name of deceased teammate, Diogo Jota.

Cristiano Ronaldo responded angrily after Al-Taawon fans taunted him with the name of Diogo Jota. Diogo Jota passed away in 2025 at the age of 28 following a car accident. Jota and Al-Hilal’s Ruben Neves were close friends. Following the tragedy, Neves wore Portugal’s national team’s No. 21 shirt and inked a tattoo in memory of his buddy. On Saturday (12), Al-Taawon supporters chanted "Jota, Jota" during a match to disconcert Ruben Neves. Al-Hilal triumphed 6-0.

Cristiano Ronaldo vented his fury on social media, demanding that the fans be barred from stadiums. The league must act and penalize such behavior from supporters, Ronaldo stated. This is no longer football, and there must be boundaries, he continued. People who exhibit this kind of conduct should never be permitted back into a stadium, Ronaldo added.

Ruben Neves also expressed disapproval of the jeers after the Al-Taawon vs Al-Hilal match. "I just hope they don’t go pray later after what they did," Neves said in the stadium’s mixing zone.

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