RIYADH, 14 September, 2026 (Nosheen): Cristiano Ronaldo has called for lifetime bans for football fans who taunted Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves over the death of his close friend and former Portugal teammate Diogo Jota. Chants about Jota, the Liverpool and Portugal forward who died in a car crash last year, were heard during Al-Hilal’s 6-0 away victory over Al-Taawoun on Saturday. Ronaldo, who is based in Saudi Arabia and captains Portugal, urged football authorities to take strict action against the supporters involved, saying people who engage in such behaviour should never be allowed to enter a stadium again. Neves, 29, responded to the chants by sarcastically giving a thumbs-up and applauding before pointing towards the sky. After the match, he said he hoped those responsible would not later go to pray after their actions. Neves was one of Jota’s closest friends and served as a pallbearer at his funeral. Jota, 28, and his younger brother Andre, 25, died in a car crash in Spain in July 2025. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation and Saudi Pro League jointly condemned the conduct of some supporters as unacceptable, saying personal tragedies must not be exploited for abuse or provocation. The authorities said relevant committees had identified the incident and would take necessary action in accordance with applicable regulations and procedures. Saudi Arabia is scheduled to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup as part of its broader efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil.