Rúben Neves Targeted by Diogo Jota Chants as Ronaldo Calls for Lifetime Bans

The incident during Al-Hilal’s 6–0 Saudi Pro League victory over Al-Taawoun in Buraidah was condemned because it appeared to turn the death of Diogo Jota into a taunt aimed at his close friend and former Portugal teammate, Rúben Neves.

Footage filmed from the stands and circulated online appeared to capture a section of home supporters repeatedly chanting “Jota” while Neves prepared to take a free-kick. 13

Why the chant caused such anger

The chant was understood as a reference to Diogo Jota, the former Portugal and Liverpool forward who died with his brother, André Silva, in a car crash in Spain’s Zamora province on July 3, 2025.

That made the apparent provocation especially personal for Neves. He and Jota were close friends and Portugal teammates, and Neves was among the pallbearers at Jota’s funeral. 9 Reporting on the crash initially pointed to a suspected tyre failure while the vehicle was overtaking; Spanish police later said their investigation also indicated possible excessive speed. The precise circumstances should therefore not be reduced to one factor alone.

Neves’s response on the pitch and afterward

As the chants were heard, Neves appeared to acknowledge the supporters, pointing to his eye before gesturing toward the sky—a response widely interpreted as a tribute to Jota. 89

After the match, Neves said: “I hope they don’t go to prayer afterwards.” 11 The remark underscored his view that invoking a bereavement to unsettle an opponent went far beyond normal sporting rivalry.

Why Cristiano Ronaldo called for lifetime bans

Cristiano Ronaldo, who played alongside both Neves and Jota for Portugal, said the Saudi Pro League should punish any supporters found responsible. “This is no longer football, and there have to be limits,” he said, adding that people who behave that way should never be allowed into a stadium again. 13

Ronaldo’s demand for lifetime exclusions focused on the nature of the alleged abuse: it did not concern a player’s performance, club allegiance or a conventional match-day rivalry, but the death of a teammate and friend.

What happened next

Al-Hilal filed a complaint with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, according to Reuters. 1 Al-Taawoun also condemned the chants and said it was taking action to identify those involved. 2

At the time of the reporting, the Saudi Pro League had not publicly announced disciplinary action. 1 The episode left the focus not on Al-Hilal’s emphatic result, but on the expectation that clubs and competition authorities draw a clear line against grief being used as a weapon in the stands.