Cristiano Ronaldo demands lifetime bans for Saudi fans behind sick Diogo Jota chants directed towards Ruben Neves

CRISTIANO RONALDO has demanded lifetime bans for fans who targeted Ruben Neves with sick Diogo Jota chants during Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League clash. Al-Taawoun supporters could be heard shouting “Jota! Jota! Jota!” towards the former Wolves midfielder during Saturday’s match. Cristiano Ronaldo has added his voice to calls to punish fans who were singing sickening Jota chants Credit: Reuters The chants were directed at Jota’s close pal Ruben Neves during a Saudi League game Credit: Getty An angry Neves, who carried close pal Jota’s coffin at his funeral, responded by making a “God is watching you” gesture before sarcastically applauding the supporters. And the 29-year-old later said as he made his way through the mixed zone: “I just hope they don’t go to pray later.” Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! The incident sparked fury online – and Al-Nassr superstar Ronaldo has now joined those demanding punishment. Commenting on an Instagram post calling for action, the 233-cap Portugal legend 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.” Some have claimed the chants were intended as a tribute to Liverpool hero Jota, who tragically died aged 28 alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in Spain in July 2025. But they were widely condemned given Neves’ close relationship with his late team-mate. Most read in Sport Former Liverpool forward Jota played with Cristiano in the Portugal team before his tragic death Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Neves and Jota starred together at Wolves and were playing together for Portugal before his death Credit: Shutterstock Editorial The entire Portugal team have tried to keep alive the memory of Jota who died in a tragic car accident Credit: Reuters Neves and Jota spent three seasons together at Wolves and also shared a dressing room with Portugal. Following Jota’s death, an emotional Neves vowed to remain close to his friend’s family. He wrote: “More than a friendship, we’re family, and we won’t stop it just because now you decided to sign a contract a little further away from us. “I’m going to make sure you’re always present and I’ll make sure that your loved ones never lack anything while you’re there, far away but thinking of us, waiting for us. “Life has brought us together and now it can’t tear us apart.” Liverpool later retired Jota’s No20 shirt across all levels of the club, the first time in the Reds’ history that a squad number had been permanently withdrawn. Saturday’s ugly scenes overshadowed an emphatic 6-0 victory for Al-Hilal, with Neves setting up Ollie Watkins for the opener before Gabriel Martinelli bagged a hat-trick. The victory sent Al-Hilal top of the Saudi Pro League after winning six of their opening seven matches. Comment now