Cristiano Ronaldo has strongly criticised supporters who allegedly mocked his late friend and Portugal team-mate Diogo Jota during a Saudi Pro League match, calling on authorities to take firm action against those responsible.
The incident occurred during the meeting between Al-Hilal and Al-Taawoun, when a section of the crowd directed offensive chants towards Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves. The remarks reportedly referred to Jota, whose death in a road accident in 2025 deeply affected his former international team-mates.
Ronaldo later shared a video of the incident on his Instagram account and urged the Saudi Pro League authorities to respond. The Portugal captain argued that football has boundaries and that supporters who cross them should face serious consequences.
He went as far as calling for the spectators involved to be prevented from entering stadiums for life. Ronaldo’s position was that passionate support and rivalry are part of football, but mocking the death of another person goes beyond what should be accepted inside a stadium.
The reaction was also personal for both Ronaldo and Neves. The two are Portugal international team-mates, while Jota played alongside them for the national side for several years. Ronaldo therefore chose to publicly support Neves after the midfielder became the target of the chants.
Neves appeared to respond to the crowd during the match. He initially applauded sarcastically before pointing towards the sky and then gesturing towards his eyes. His reaction appeared to indicate that he had understood the nature of the chants and was unhappy with what had been said.
After the match, Neves gave a brief response when approached by journalists. He said he hoped the supporters responsible would not go to pray after behaving in such a manner. The midfielder did not provide further details about the incident.
Jota’s death remains a painful memory
The controversy has particular significance because of the circumstances surrounding Jota’s death. The former Liverpool and Portugal forward was killed in a road accident in Zamora, Spain, in July 2025. He was only 28 years old.
Jota’s younger brother, André Silva, also died in the same accident. The tragedy shocked Portuguese football and prompted an outpouring of grief from team-mates, clubs and supporters.
Jota had established himself as an important player for both Liverpool and Portugal. His international career brought him into regular contact with Ronaldo and Neves, strengthening the personal connection between the three players.
For Ronaldo, the latest incident was therefore not simply another example of hostile behaviour from a football crowd. It involved the memory of a close friend and former team-mate who died at a very young age.
The episode has also renewed discussion about the limits of supporter behaviour at football grounds. Chants and verbal exchanges are a familiar part of the sport, particularly during highly competitive matches, but targeting a player’s grief or mocking a deceased footballer is a different matter.
Ronaldo’s public intervention has placed the focus on the responsibility of supporters and the authorities overseeing professional football. He believes those who deliberately cross that line should face consequences severe enough to prevent similar incidents in the future.
It remains to be seen what action, if any, the Saudi Pro League authorities will take over the incident. For Ronaldo and Neves, however, the episode has highlighted a more personal issue: the need to preserve respect for the memory of a team-mate whose life was tragically cut short.
