Fans of Al-Taawoun were heard shouting the name of Diogo Jota to provoke Rúben Neves, a player of Al-Hilal. Diogo Jota was a close friend of Neves and had passed away in a car accident last year. The provocation was seen as an attempt to unsettle Neves before the match.
The incident has sparked widespread criticism, with Cristiano commenting on the matter, stating that the league needs to take measures and punish such behaviour from fans. He believes that people who engage in such behaviour should never be allowed to enter a stadium again. Al-Hilal's decision to report the incident to the Saudi Football Federation is a clear indication of their intention to address this issue.