A group of home fans at Al Taawoun's ground in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia, repeatedly chanted "Jota, Jota, Jota" towards Al Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves as he prepared to take a free kick. The chants were a deliberate attempt to mock Neves using the name of his deceased friend.
The Portuguese midfielder responded by clapping and giving a thumbs-up towards the stands, then pointing to his eyes and gesturing skyward. After the match, when asked about the chants, Neves commented, "I just hope they don't go to pray after what they did".
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Ronaldo in an Al Nassr jersey during a Saudi Pro League match against Al Riyadh at Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 21/8. Photo: AFP |
Less than a day later, Ronaldo took to Instagram, urging Saudi Pro League organizers to address the issue. "The league must act and punish this type of fan behavior", the Al Nassr captain wrote in a comment beneath a video of the incident. He emphasized, "This is no longer football and there must be a limit. Those who behave like this should never be allowed back into the stadium".
Diogo Jota died in a car accident in Zamora, Spain, in 7/2025, at the age of 28. His brother, Andre Silva, also perished in the crash. Jota had been a teammate of both Ronaldo and Neves on the Portuguese national team.
The loss was particularly painful for Neves, who shared a deep bond with Jota. They were close friends since their days playing for Portuguese youth teams and Porto, and later as teammates at Wolverhampton. Neves was also among the pallbearers at Jota's funeral, demonstrating the depth of their friendship.
As a lasting tribute, Neves bears a tattoo of Jota on his left calf. Following Jota's death, Neves adopted the number 21 jersey for Portugal, the same number the late forward had worn, further honoring his friend's memory.
Ronaldo also honored Jota while playing for Portugal. At the World Cup, he wore the number 21 jersey after a victory against Croatia, dedicating it to his former teammate.
The chants directed at Neves in Buraydah drew widespread condemnation. Beyond Ronaldo, Saudi international Saleh Abu Al-Shamat also criticized the actions of some Al Taawoun fans.
Abu Al-Shamat stated that the incident transcended a single club or match, violating religious values. He posted on Instagram that while football involves competition and rivalry, fans should not mock the deceased, defame, or attack others' families. "This is wrong and unacceptable", Abu Al-Shamat wrote.
The chants occurred during a match where Al Hilal decisively defeated Al Taawoun 6-0, securing their lead in the Saudi Pro League. Neves played for 75 minutes before being substituted. Gabriel Martinelli scored a hat-trick for Al Hilal, and Ollie Watkins added two goals.
Ronaldo's comments carry significant weight, as he is the most prominent figure in Saudi Arabian football. The 41-year-old forward reportedly also holds a 15% stake in Al Nassr, underscoring his influence.
The Saudi Pro League has not yet announced any penalties for the fans involved in the incident.
By Hoang An
