Cristiano Ronaldo demands lifetime bans after fans mock Diogo Jota’s death

Cristiano Ronaldo has called for lifetime bans against football supporters who mocked the death of Diogo Jota during a Saudi Pro League match involving Al-Hilal.

Cristiano Ronaldo has called for lifetime bans against football supporters who mocked the death of Diogo Jota during a Saudi Pro League match involving Al-Hilal.

The Portugal captain strongly condemned the behaviour after rival supporters directed chants about Jota towards Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves during his team’s 6-0 away victory over Al-Taawoun on Saturday.

Jota, a former Liverpool and Portugal forward, died in a road accident in Spain in July 2025. He was 28 years old. His younger brother, Andre Silva, 25 also lost his life in the same crash.

The chants were particularly distressing for Neves, who was one of Jota’s closest friends and former Portugal teammates. Neves also served as a pallbearer at Jota’s funeral.

Ronaldo who currently plays in Saudi Arabia reacted angrily to the incident on social media.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner called on the Saudi football authorities to take decisive action against supporters involved in the abuse. He argued that people who use personal tragedies to attack players should not be allowed back into stadiums.

Ronaldo’s comments added further pressure on Saudi football authorities to respond to the incident and ensure that similar behaviour is not repeated.

Neves appeared visibly affected by the chants during the match. Instead of confronting the supporters directly the midfielder responded sarcastically by giving them a thumbs-up and applauding.

He then pointed towards the sky, seemingly paying tribute to his late friend Jota.

After the final whistle, Neves expressed his disappointment over the incident and criticised the supporters for bringing Jota’s death into the match.

The midfielder’s close friendship with Jota made the incident especially painful. The two players had shared the Portugal dressing room and developed a strong relationship during their careers.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation and Saudi Pro League issued a joint statement following the incident.

The authorities described the supporters’ behaviour as unacceptable and stressed that personal tragedies should never be used as a way to insult or provoke players.

Officials also confirmed that the relevant committees had identified the conduct involved and would take action under the country’s existing football regulations and procedures.

The statement underlined Saudi football’s intention to maintain discipline and respect inside stadiums, particularly as the country continues to build its reputation on the international football stage.

The controversy comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in football and attracting some of the biggest names in the sport.

The country has become an increasingly important destination for international players and is preparing to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Saudi Arabia has also been using major sporting events as part of a broader strategy to diversify its economy and reduce its long-term dependence on oil.

The incident involving Neves and the chants about Jota has therefore raised wider questions about supporter behaviour and the standards expected in Saudi football.

For Ronaldo, however, the message was clear: football supporters who exploit the death of a player’s loved one to cause distress should face the strongest possible punishment.