Cristiano Ronaldo has demanded life bans for supporters who mocked Ruben Neves over the death of former Liverpool star Diogo Jota.
Fans of Al-Taawoun of the Saudi Pro League repeatedly chanted Jota’s name in the direction of Neves during the match against Al-Hilal on Saturday.
Jota, a former Portuguese teammate of Neves and Ronaldo, died in a car crash in northern Spain in July 2025. Neves was Jota’s best friend and a pallbearer at his funeral.
Ronaldo, who also plays in Saudi Arabia for Al-Nassr, took to social media to call for action.
He wrote: “The league needs to act and punish this kind of fan behavior. This is not football anymore, and there have to be limits. People who behave like this should never be allowed in a stadium again.”
Neves showed his disgust during the game, indicating that “God is watching” by pointing to the sky, his eyes and then the fans during a game that his team won 6-0.
Afterward, he was asked about the incidents and said, “I hope (the fans) don’t go and pray later.”
Saudi international disgusted by chants
Al-Ahli’s Saudi Arabia international Saleh Abu Al-Shamat also spoke out against the fans’ actions.
“I wanted to draw attention to something we all witnessed today. I felt it was my duty as a Muslim to share this and raise awareness,” Abu Al-Shamat wrote in Instagram.
“No one is perfect, of course, but regarding the actions of some Al-Taawoun fans during the match against Al-Hilal: it is not only about our club, but about our great religion, Islam.
“No matter how intense the rivalry or the situation, we should never stoop to rejoicing over the dead, engage in slander, or attack people’s families or the deceased.
“We live in an Islamic country, and it is our duty to show the world what Islam really stands for: a religion of love, tolerance and respect. I hope we can take advantage of the massive attention our league is receiving to project the best possible image of Islam.
“By doing this, we could foster goodwill and help others learn about our faith. This is the message I wanted to convey; I felt a personal obligation, as a Muslim living in this great Islamic nation, to speak out against what is happening, because it is wrong and unacceptable.”