Saudi Football Body Vows Action Against Jota Chants, Ronaldo Urges Life Ban
Saudi football authorities said they will investigate the abuse as Cristiano Ronaldo called for life bans for fans who mocked Diogo Jota’s death.
- On Saturday, Al-Hilal's Ruben Neves faced abusive chants about Diogo Jota's death during a 6-0 away win over Al-Taawoun. Cristiano Ronaldo condemned the behavior on Sunday, calling for lifetime stadium bans.
- Jota, 28, and his brother Andre, 25, died in a car crash in Spain in July 2025. Neves, a close friend and pallbearer at Jota's funeral, responded to the taunts by pointing toward the sky.
- The Saudi Arabian Football Federation and Saudi Pro League condemned "unacceptable conduct by some supporters" in a joint statement late Sunday. Officials said "exploiting personal tragedies for abuse or provocation is unacceptable behaviour that has no place in Saudi football."
- Saudi-Based Portugal captain Ronaldo wrote on Instagram on Sunday demanding league action. "People who behave like this should never be allowed to enter a stadium again," he added.
- The Gulf monarchy has invested nearly two billion dollars in football over three years to attract international stars. Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the 2034 World Cup to diversify its oil-dependent economy.
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36 Articles
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation and the Saudi Pro League management have condemned the 'Diogo Jota' chants directed at Portuguese footballer Ruben Neves.
Saudi football authorities promised to impose sanctions against Al Taawoun fans who played offensive songs in reference to Portuguese Diogo Jota, who died just over a year ago in a traffic accident, with the aim of destabilizing Rúben Neves, Al Hilal's opponent. On Saturday's departure between Al Taawoun and Al Hilal, who ended with a score of 6 to 0 visitors, fans of the house team played songs and slogans in reference to the accident that took…
Saudi football body vows action against Jota chants, Ronaldo urges life ban
Chants about Jota, the Liverpool and Portugal forward who died in a car crash last year, rang out during Al-Hilal's 6-0 away win over Al-Taawoun on Saturday. "The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behaviour," Saudi-based Portugal captain Ronaldo wrote on Instagram on Sunday. "People who behave like this should never be allowed to enter a stadium again," he added. Midfielder Neves, 29, reacted to the chants coming from the stand…
This weekend, Portuguese Ruben Neves was subjected to a distasteful Diogo Jota chant. This prompted Cristiano Ronaldo to take to social media and call for a lifetime ban for the supporters. "There must be limits," he wrote in a comment on Instagram.
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