Cristiano Ronaldo has condemned the chants directed at Al-Hilal midfielder Rúben Neves by a section of Al-Taawoun supporters during Saturday’s Saudi Pro League clash, calling for strong action against fans who use personal tragedy as a means of provocation.

The incident occurred during Al-Hilal’s emphatic 6-0 victory over Al-Taawoun in Buraidah, but the result was overshadowed by an uncomfortable episode involving Neves and the home supporters.

Al-Taawoun fans target Neves with Jota chants

During the match, some Al-Taawoun supporters repeatedly chanted “Jota, Jota, Jota” in the direction of Neves.

The reference was to Diogo Jota, the former Liverpool and Portugal forward who died in a car accident in Spain in July 2025 at the age of 28. Jota was a close friend and former teammate of Neves, with the pair having played together at FC Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers and for Portugal.

Neves was visibly upset by the chants. During the incident, he pointed towards the sky and appeared to tell the supporters that “God is watching you.”

The Portuguese midfielder later made his feelings clear after the final whistle, saying: “I hope they don’t go to prayer later after what they did.”

Ronaldo calls for punishment

The incident quickly attracted attention in Portugal and Saudi Arabia, with Cristiano Ronaldo also weighing in.

Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi rivals Al-Nassr and shared the Portugal dressing room with both Jota and Neves, called for the Saudi Pro League to take action against supporters involved in such behaviour.

The Portuguese superstar’s reaction was particularly significant given his own relationship with Jota. Ronaldo played alongside the Liverpool forward for Portugal and has previously paid emotional tribute to him following his death.

“The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behavior. This is no longer football, and there have to be limits. People who behave like this should never be allowed to enter a stadium again,” Ronaldo wrote on social media.

Al-Hilal ran out 6-0 winners, with new signing Gabriel Martinelli scoring a hat-trick and Ollie Watkins also finding the net twice. Neves contributed an assist as the Riyadh club produced a dominant display. The victory also helped Al-Hilal return to the top of the Saudi Pro League standings.

Neves has spoken openly about the difficulty of losing Jota and has continued to carry his friend’s memory with him. Portugal also paid tribute to Jota during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the first anniversary of his death with a series of emotional gestures.