Followers seem to taunt Al-Hilal’s Ruben Neves by chanting the identify of his late pal
Cristiano Ronaldo referred to as for all times bans after rival followers taunted Al-Hilal’s Ruben Neves. Picture: AFP
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabian soccer authorities promised to take motion and Cristiano Ronaldo referred to as for all times bans after rival followers taunted Al-Hilal’s Ruben Neves concerning the loss of life of Diogo Jota, his pal and former Portugal team-mate.
Chants about Jota, the Liverpool and Portugal ahead who died in a automotive crash final yr, rang out throughout Al-Hilal’s 6-0 away win over Al-Taawoun on Saturday.
“The league should take motion and punish this sort of fan behaviour,” Saudi-based Portugal captain Ronaldo wrote on Instagram on Sunday.
“Individuals who behave like this could by no means be allowed to enter a stadium once more,” he added.
Midfielder Neves, 29, reacted to the chants coming from the stands by sarcastically giving a thumbs-up and applauding, earlier than pointing in the direction of the sky.
“I simply hope they do not go to hope later after what they did,” he mentioned after the match.
Neves was one in all Jota’s closest pals and was a pallbearer at his funeral. Jota, 28, and his brother Andre, 25, died in a crash in Spain in July 2025.
The Saudi Arabian Soccer Federation and Saudi Professional League condemned “unacceptable conduct by some supporters” in a joint assertion late on Sunday.
“Exploiting private tragedies for the aim of abuse or provocation is unacceptable behaviour that has no place in Saudi soccer,” the assertion mentioned.
“Related committees have recognized the conduct in query and can take the mandatory motion in accordance with the relevant rules and procedures,” it added.
Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup, one of many flagship occasions underpinning its drive to diversify an financial system nonetheless closely depending on oil.
The highly effective Gulf monarchy has invested almost two billion {dollars} in soccer over three years, attracting stars reminiscent of Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema.