Ronaldo calls for life Bans over Jota chants

Cristiano Ronaldo has called for life bans against football fans who made chants referencing former teammate Diogo Jota during a Saudi Pro League match. The chants took place during a match between Al-Taawoun and Al-Hilal, the team of Jota's deceased brother, in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. Jota passed away on July 3, 2025, in a car crash in Zamora, Spain.

Neves, a close friend of Jota, was a pallbearer at his funeral. Footage from the match showed supporters chanting "Jota," which prompted Neves to point to his eye and the sky in response. Neves later expressed his hope that the offenders would not attend any future matches. Ronaldo, in response to the incident, urged the league to take action and impose severe consequences on such fan behavior, stating that it is no longer acceptable in football.

Al-Hilal, the team of Jota's brother, filed a complaint with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation regarding the incident, vowing to protect the integrity of the sport from offensive practices. Al-Taawoun, the opposing team, also condemned the offensive chants, strongly rejecting the actions and promising to take necessary measures to prevent recurrence.