Ronaldo Demands Lifetime Bans for Fans Chanting ‘Jota’ at Neves

Cristiano Ronaldo calls for lifetime stadium bans after fans chanted 'Jota' at Ruben Neves during Saudi Pro League match. Al-Hilal and Al-Taawoun condemn the...

Editorial Desk

September 14, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Cristiano Ronaldo has demanded that fans who chanted the name of late teammate Diogo Jota during a Saudi Pro League match be banned from stadiums for life.

The incident occurred on Saturday during a game between Al-Taawoun and Al-Hilal in Buraidah, where supporters reportedly made references to Jota, who died in a car accident in July 2025. Neves, who was a pallbearer at Jota’s funeral, responded by pointing to his eye and then the sky.

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Ronaldo addressed the situation on Sunday, urging the league to take strict action against such behavior. He said, “This is no longer football, and there have to be limits.” Al-Hilal and Al-Taawoun both issued statements condemning the chants, while the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and Saudi Pro League also criticized the conduct, calling it inconsistent with the values of the sport.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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