Cristiano Ronaldo Calls for Lifetime Stadium Bans After Diogo Jota Chants

Cristiano Ronaldo has called for severe punishment against football supporters who appeared to mock the late Diogo Jota during a Saudi Pro League match involving Jota’s close friend, Rúben Neves.

The incident happened Saturday during Al-Taawoun’s meeting with Al-Hilal in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. Videos recorded from the stands and later shared online appeared to show some supporters repeatedly chanting Jota’s name in the direction of Neves.

Jota, the former Liverpool and Portugal forward, died in a car crash in Zamora, northwestern Spain, along with his brother André Silva. Neves, who was a close friend of Jota, served as one of the pallbearers at his funeral.

During the match, Neves appeared to react to the chants by pointing toward his eye and then raising his hand toward the sky. Speaking afterward in the mixed zone, he expressed his frustration over the incident.

Ronaldo responded after a video of the incident was posted on Instagram. The Portugal captain said the Saudi Pro League needed to respond firmly and argued that supporters responsible for such behavior should be permanently excluded from stadiums.

“This is no longer football, and there have to be limits,” Ronaldo said in his response. He added that fans who engage in such conduct should not be permitted to attend matches again.

The match itself ended with a dominant 6-0 victory for Al-Hilal. Neves started the game and remained on the field for 75 minutes before being replaced.

The incident has raised questions about how football authorities should respond when supporters use the death of a player or personal tragedy to provoke opponents.

Al-Taawoun and Al-Hilal have been contacted for comment regarding the incident.