Photo via BBC Sport

Ronaldo demands lifetime bans over Jota chants

Cristiano Ronaldo has urged authorities to permanently bar spectators who directed taunts about the deceased Diogo Jota toward Ruben Neves during a recent Saudi Pro League fixture. The incidents occurred prior to Al-Hilal's 6-0 victory over Al-Taawoun on Saturday, where attendees repeatedly bellowed Jota's name at the midfielder.

Reacting online, Al-Nassr attacker Ronaldo insisted that organizers must intervene against such conduct, declaring that boundaries must exist beyond the sport and that perpetrators deserve lifetime stadium exclusions. Video captured Neves ironically clapping toward the crowd before gesturing upward to the heavens, later stating to the press that he hoped those involved would refrain from offering prayers after their actions.

Neves shared a deep bond with Jota through their shared tenures at Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Portuguese national setup alongside Ronaldo, even honoring him by donning Portugal's number 21 jersey and tattooing an image of their embrace on his lower leg. Jota, who registered 65 goals across 182 outings for Liverpool following a 2020 transfer and netted 14 times in 49 senior international caps after his 2019 debut, was killed at age 28 with his brother Andre Silva during a vehicle collision in Spain's Zamora province the previous July.