The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has sanctioned Al Taawoun after supporters chanted the name of the late Diogo Jota during a Saudi Pro League match against Al Hilal. The club was fined 100,000 riyals ($26,660 / £19,796) and ordered to play their next two home matches behind closed doors. Jota, a former Liverpool and Portugal forward, was killed in a car crash in Zamora, Spain, in July 2025 alongside his brother.

Footage showed Al Hilal midfielder Rúben Neves, a close friend and former teammate of Jota, reacting sarcastically to the chanting with applause, a thumbs up, and gestures toward the supporters. After the match, Neves said to reporters: "I just hope they don't go to pray later after what they did." Neves and Jota grew close through youth teams for Portugal and Porto and later played together at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Neves was a pallbearer at Jota's funeral and inherited his Portugal No. 21 shirt.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who also played with Jota for Portugal, called for lifetime stadium bans for involved supporters, writing on Instagram: "The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behavior. This is no longer football, and there have to be limits." The Saudi Arabian Football Federation's disciplinary and ethics committee ruled that Al Taawoun's supporters violated article (51-2) of their regulations. The decision is not subject to appeal.