Ronaldo Calls for Lifetime Bans as Al-Hilal Condemn Diogo Jota Chants Aimed at Ruben Neves

Cristiano Ronaldo has called for lifetime stadium bans for supporters who taunted Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves with chants referencing his late friend Diogo Jota.

The Al-Nassr forward's stance has intensified pressure on the Saudi Pro League to intervene, putting further focus on how seriously the competition is prepared to treat offensive supporter behaviour.

The incident occurred before Al-Hilal's 6-0 win over Al-Taawoun in Buraidah on Saturday, when sections of the home crowd were filmed chanting Jota's name at Neves. Footage circulating online shows the Portugal international turning towards the stands, appearing to applaud sarcastically before pointing to the sky.

Jota, the former Liverpool and Wolves forward, died alongside his brother André Silva in a car crash in Zamora, Spain, in July last year, aged 28. Neves and Jota were team-mates at Wolves and later played together for Portugal, and Neves has since worn the number 21 shirt for his country in tribute and has a tattoo of the pair embracing.

Speaking after the match, Neves did not disguise his anger. 'I just hope they don't go to pray later after what they did,' he told reporters in the mixed zone following the match.

Ronaldo Calls for Lifetime Bans

Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr in the same league and was a national team-mate of both men, condemned the chants on social media. 'The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behaviour,' he wrote. '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.'

His remarks carry weight given his profile as the Saudi Pro League's most recognisable player since his move to Al-Nassr, and they place further pressure on the competition to respond publicly to the episode.

His intervention has been widely shared online, sparking debate among supporters about the appropriate punishment for offensive chanting.

The Saudi Pro League has not yet issued a statement addressing Ronaldo's comments or outlining any potential disciplinary measures.

Al-Hilal, however, has filed a formal complaint with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation over the incident, putting the matter before the country's football authorities.

Clubs Respond as League Faces Pressure

Al-Hilal issued a statement backing their player, saying the club 'expressed its absolute rejection of such actions targeting players or their families, or intended to cause personal offence.'

Al-Taawoun, whose supporters were reportedly involved in the chanting, also distanced itself from the incident, saying such conduct 'is completely unacceptable and does not represent Al-Taawoun, its supporters or the values for which its terraces are known.'

Al-Hilal's formal complaint was made to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, while no disciplinary action, individual identifications or bans had been announced by the league or local authorities as of Monday. Neves played 75 minutes of the match before being substituted as Al-Hilal secured a comfortable victory.

Jota made 182 appearances for Liverpool after joining from Wolves in 2020, scoring 65 goals, and won 49 caps for Portugal, scoring 14 times, following his international debut in 2019.

Whether Ronaldo's intervention prompts a further response from the Saudi Pro League remains to be seen, and for now the incident has drawn widespread condemnation following Al-Hilal's formal complaint.