FP
Fakayejo Paul
Cristiano Ronaldo has publicly demanded lifetime stadium bans for fans who taunted Rúben Neves with chants referencing his late Portugal teammate and close friend Diogo Jota.
The incident took place during Al-Hilal’s 6-0 victory over Al-Taawoun in the Saudi Pro League, when host supporters repeatedly shouted Jota’s name at Neves while he lined up over a set piece.Neves, who served as a pallbearer at Jota’s funeral following his tragic passing in July 2025, responded on the pitch by pointing to his eye and gesturing upward to the sky.
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Official Statements & Responses
- Cristiano Ronaldo: Commenting on footage of the crowd’s behavior on social media, the Al-Nassr captain wrote:
“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.” - Rúben Neves: Speaking in the mixed zone after the match, Neves condemned the behavior, stating:
“I just hope they don’t go to pray afterwards.” - Al-Hilal & Governing Bodies:Al-Hilal submitted a formal complaint to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF).SAFF and the Saudi Pro League issued a joint statement condemning the supporters, confirming disciplinary committees are reviewing the match footage to enforce bans and penalties.