Cristiano Ronaldo during a Saudi Pro League match between Al Nassr and Al Riyadh at the Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Aug. 21, 2026. Photo by AFP

The chanting occurred during a league match between Al Taawoun and Al Hilal in Buraidah on Saturday. As Neves prepared to take a free-kick, a group of Al Taawoun fans reportedly chanted the name of his late friend at the Al Hilal midfielder.

According to The Guardian, the Portuguese international responded by clapping sarcastically and giving a thumbs-up toward the stands, before pointing to his eye and then upward to the sky. Speaking to reporters after the match, Neves said: "I hope they don't go to pray afterwards."

Ronaldo quickly spoke out on social media, demanding that league organizers take action against those involved.

"The league must take ⁠action and punish this kind of fan behavior," Ronaldo wrote in a comment on Instagram. "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."

Jota died in a car accident in Zamora, Spain, in July 2025 at the age of 28, alongside his younger brother, Andre Silva. Jota was a teammate of both Ronaldo and Neves on the Portugal national team.

Neves and Jota had been close friends since their days in Portugal's youth teams and at FC Porto before later playing together in the Premier League at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Neves was a pallbearer at Jota's funeral and inherited the late forward's number 21 jersey for the national team. Neves also has a tattoo of Jota on his left calf in memory of his close friend.

Ronaldo previously paid tribute to Jota while playing for Portugal, wearing the number 21 jersey following a World Cup victory over Croatia.

The chanting directed at Neves in Buraidah sparked widespread backlash. Not just Ronaldo, Saudi Arabian international Saleh Abu Al-Shamat criticized the actions of the Al Taawoun supporters, arguing that the incident was not just about a club rivalry anymore and went against religious values, describing the behavior as unacceptable.

In that match, Al Hilal completely dominated Al Taawoun. Neves played 75 minutes before coming off as his team secured a thrashing 6-0 victory to maintain their position at the top of the Saudi Pro League. Gabriel Martinelli scored a hat-trick for Al Hilal, while Ollie Watkins netted a brace.

Ronaldo's intervention carries significant weight given his status as the most prominent figure in Saudi Arabian football, where the 41-year-old forward reportedly holds a 15% stake in Al Nassr. The Saudi Pro League has not yet announced any formal disciplinary action or penalties for the fans involved in the incident.