Mohamed Ihattaren causes a stir with ‘bizarre’ action after goal for Fortuna Sittard

Mohamed Ihattaren has set tongues wagging online. The midfielder put Fortuna Sittard 0-1 up against FC Groningen, but his celebration drew plenty of criticism.

Fortuna Sittard went ahead in Groningen inside the opening quarter of an hour. Lecquinio Zeefuik wrong-footed Thijmen Blokzijl with a feint in the box, then pulled it back perfectly for Mohamed Ihattaren. The midfielder struck first time.

Rather than running to Zeefuik, who had been responsible for ninety per cent of the goal, Ihattaren sprinted off alone towards a television camera and shouted something.

Viewers of the VriendenLoterij Eredivisie match turned on the former PSV and Juventus player, among others, on X. "What an egoist Ihattaren is. Surely you run straight to Zeefuik to thank him for the brilliant assist? But no, straight to the camera."

Another said: "Zeefuik does the work, Ihattaren applies the simple finish, but instead of thanking and congratulating Zeefuik, Ihattaren would rather walk towards the camera to mumble something for himself,"

A further post read: "Ihattaren is handed a goal by Zeefuik but demands all the attention for himself. That is what is wrong with that boy,"

One more user wrote: "Zeefuik produces an action like that and then Ihattaren goes and tries to claim the credit at the camera. Very bizarre,"

Fortuna did not hold the lead for long, though. After a superb kick from Etienne Vaessen, Thom van Bergen rolled his opponent and fed Jorg Schreuders, who then found David van der Werff for 1-1.

Before long, however, the Limburg side were back in front. This time Zeefuik got the goal himself. He was played in behind the Groningen defence and beautifully chipped the ball over Vaessen.