"This is no longer football!" Ronaldo demands action after sick Jota provocation

Cristiano Ronaldo believes a line has been crossed and wants the Saudi league to respond decisively.

Details: Cristiano Ronaldo has demanded strong action after a section of Al-Taawoun supporters repeatedly chanted Diogo Jota's name at Rúben Neves during Al-Hilal's 6-0 Saudi Pro League victory.

"The league needs to act and punish this kind of behaviour from fans. This is no longer football and there have to be limits," Ronaldo said.

He added that people who behave this way should never be allowed inside a stadium again.

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The chants were aimed directly at Neves, one of Jota's closest friends. The Al-Hilal midfielder was visibly affected by what he heard and pointed toward the sky before gesturing back at the stands. The episode unfolded during Al-Hilal's emphatic away victory over Al-Taawoun on September 12.

Ronaldo's reaction was unequivocal. The Al Nassr FC forward called on the league not to tolerate such incidents and made it clear that, in his view, supporters who use a personal tragedy to provoke footballers should face the strongest possible consequences, including being permanently barred from stadiums.

The context makes the chants particularly painful. Neves and Jota played together at Wolverhampton and represented Portugal alongside each other, developing a close friendship away from the pitch as well. Jota and his brother André Silva died in a car crash in Spain in July 2025, a tragedy that deeply affected Neves and the Portuguese football community.

It is worth noting that Portugal later handed Jota's No. 21 national-team shirt to Neves as a tribute. The Al-Hilal midfielder continues to wear that number for his country in memory of his close friend.

Reminder: Disgusting scenes! Al-Taawoun fans chant Jota's name at Rúben Neves — his response says it all. VIDEO