Ronaldo calls for lifetime bans after ‘Jota’ chants aimed at Neves
The chants referring to the late Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash last year, occurred during Saturday’s Al-Taawoun-Al-Hilal match in Buraidah, Saudi Arabia.
Cristiano Ronaldo has called for lifetime bans on fans who made chants referencing former teammate Diogo Jota at Ruben Neves during a Saudi Pro League match. The chants took place on Saturday during the game between Al-Taawoun and Al-Hilal in Buraidah, Saudi Arabia. Jota tragically passed away on July 3, 2025, in a car accident in Zamora, Spain, alongside his brother Andre Silva.
Neves, a close friend of Jota, was a pallbearer at his funeral. Footage from the match showed supporters chanting "Jota" which caught Neves' attention. Responding to the incident on social media, Neves expressed hope that the offenders wouldn't attend future games. Ronaldo addressed the issue on his personal Instagram account, stating that the league must take action and punish such fan behavior, emphasizing that it is no longer acceptable in football.
The match concluded with Al-Hilal winning 6-0, with Neves playing the full 75 minutes before being substituted. Reuters reached out to Al-Taawoun and Al-Hilal for further comment.
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