The Saudi Pro League faces pressure to punish supporter conduct after Cristiano Ronaldo called for lifetime stadium bans following fans shouting the late Diogo Jota's name at Ruben Neves.
Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr and was a Portugal team-mate of Jota, wrote on social media that the league must act and that people who behave like this should never be allowed to enter a stadium again. The incident occurred during Al-Hilal's 6-0 victory over Al-Taawoun, and footage circulating on social media appears to show Neves being singled out by a section of supporters who repeatedly shouted "Jota" at him.
Ruben Neves, an Al-Hilal midfielder and former Wolves team-mate of Jota, responded on the pitch by sarcastically applauding the crowd, pointing to the sky, and looking toward them. After the match he told reporters, "I just hope they don't go to pray later after what they did." Neves wears Portugal's number 21 in memory of Jota and has a tattoo of the two players embracing.
Diogo Jota died in a car crash in the Spanish province of Zamora in July at the age of 28, alongside his brother Andre Silva. Jota scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool after joining from Wolves in 2020, and he made his international debut in 2019, scoring 14 goals in 49 games for Portugal.
Ronaldo framed the episode as beyond acceptable sporting behaviour and urged decisive sanctions. The call places the spotlight on how Saudi football authorities and clubs will respond to chants that exploit a player's death. BBC Sport has contacted both clubs for comment.
The next step rests with league and club officials, who must decide whether to open disciplinary proceedings or introduce measures to prevent a repeat. The incident adds to broader questions about fan conduct and how teams protect players dealing with personal loss.
