Footage widely circulated on social media<\/a>, filmed from the Al Taawoun Club Stadium stands, shows Al Hilal\u2019s Neves standing over a free-kick close to the home fans when chants of \u2018Jota, Jota, Jota\u2019 become audible.<\/p>\n The central midfielder appears to sarcastically applaud supporters, before repeating the actions of pointing to the sky and then making an eye-pointing gesture towards the section of the stand, off camera, from which the chant appears to emanate.<\/p>\n The 29-year-old, walking past media after the match, can be seen briefly telling reporters<\/a>: \u201cI just hope they don\u2019t go to pray later after what they did.\u201d He did not go into further detail on the incident.<\/p>\n Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi club Al Nassr and is a Portugal international team-mate of Neves and played alongside the late Jota, has called on the behaviour to be punished, adding that those involved \u201cshould never be allowed to enter a stadium again.\u201d<\/p>\n \n Neves, standing two places to Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s left inherited Jota\u2019s No 21 with the Portugal national team (Mattia Ozbot\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Posting on Instagram<\/a>, Ronaldo wrote: \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n The Athletic has contacted Al Hilal, the Saudi Pro League, and Neves\u2019 representatives for comment.<\/p>\n \n Ronaldo took to Instagram to comment on a video of the incident (Instagram: livemodetv.pt)<\/p>\n Neves and Jota were close both personally and professionally. Born just four months apart, they were team-mates at youth international level for Portugal and then at Porto, before both joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship in July 2017, aged 20.<\/p>\n The two were Wolves team-mates for three seasons, both families lived in the Compton area of Wolverhampton and, each with young children, socialised together. On the pitch, Jota and Neves helped Wolves rise to the Premier League while each became regulars on international duty with Portugal\u2019s senior squad.<\/p>\n Neves has a tattoo on his calf of himself and Jota embracing, a permanent reminder of their close friendship. The Al Hilal midfielder was a pallbearer at Jota\u2019s funeral.<\/p>\n \n The tattoo Neves has on his left calf, of him and Jota (Carlos Rodrigues\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Jota, who won 49 caps for Portugal and wore the No 21 shirt for his country, had his national shirt number inherited by Neves<\/a> in August last year. \u201cHe had a very close relationship with Diogo and is the ideal person to represent him,\u201d then-Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez said of the decision.<\/p>\n Al Hilal won Saturday\u2019s league game 0-6, with former Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli scoring a hat-trick while England international Ollie Watkins netted twice.<\/p>\n Simone Inzaghi\u2019s side are top of the standings with 18 points from their opening seven matches, while Al Tawooun are 17th, one place off the foot of the table.<\/p>\n![\"Portugal's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2284408604-1-scaled.jpg\")
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