Cristiano Ronaldo Demands Lifetime Stadium Bans After Offensive Chants Target Ruben Neves

Cristiano Ronaldo plays in the Saudi Pro League for football team Al-Nassr. Ronaldo has stated that fans who appeared to make chants referencing former teammate Diogo Jota at Ruben Neves during a Saudi Pro League match deserve a lifetime ban from football stadiums.

The incident took place on Saturday during a fixture between Al-Taawoun and Neves’s side Al-Hilal in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. Diogo Jota died on July 3, 2025, in a car crash in Zamora, northwestern Spain, alongside his brother Andre Silva. Ruben Neves, a close friend of Diogo Jota, served as a pallbearer at his funeral.

Footage captured from the stands and shared on social media showed supporters apparently chanting "Jota". Ruben Neves reacted by pointing to his eye and then up to the sky. Speaking in the mixed zone after the match, Ruben Neves remarked, “I hope they don’t go to pray afterwards.”

Reacting to an Instagram post featuring the footage, Cristiano Ronaldo wrote from his verified account, “The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behaviour. This is no longer football, and there have to be limits. People who behave like this should never be allowed to enter a stadium again.” The match ended in a 6-0 victory for Al-Hilal, with Ruben Neves playing 75 minutes before being substituted.

Following the game, Al-Hilal Club Company announced on Sunday that they officially filed a complaint with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation regarding the incident. The club stated they remain confident that authorities will implement measures to safeguard the integrity of sporting competition against offensive practices, expressing absolute rejection of actions targeting players or their families.

Al-Taawoun also issued a statement on Sunday strongly condemning the offensive chants, calling the conduct completely unacceptable and unrepresentative of their supporters or values. The club confirmed they will take all necessary measures with relevant authorities to prevent future occurrences and hold the offenders accountable.