Mohamed Ihattaren scored for Fortuna Sittard in the VriendenLoterij Eredivisie and then caused controversy with a remarkable post-goal action. The midfielder netted the 0-1 away at FC Groningen but immediately sprinted to a television camera to shout something after his goal, drawing criticism.
Fortuna Sittard currently sits sixth in the Eredivisie with seven points from four matches. Danny Buijs's team has a goal difference of plus one, having scored eight and conceded seven. They trail leaders AZ Alkmaar by five points. The match against FC Groningen was part of this strong start to the season.
What exactly happened after the goal?
Ihattaren opened the scoring in the first half with a first-time strike. Lecquinio Zeefuik provided the assist from which the midfielder profited. Immediately after his goal, Ihattaren sprinted alone towards a television camera by the pitch. He shouted something into the lens while his teammates ran over to congratulate him.
That action did not sit well with some viewers. A spectator of the VriendenLoterij Eredivisie match said: "What an egoist Ihattaren is. Surely you run straight to Zeefuik to thank him for the brilliant assist? But no, straight to the camera." The incident was widely discussed on social media.
How did the rest of the match unfold?
Fortuna Sittard's lead did not last long. FC Groningen equalized through an attack that started with goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen. Thom van Bergen played the ball to Jorg Schreuders, who found David van der Werff for the 1-1.
Fortuna Sittard later regained the lead. This time, Lecquinio Zeefuik was the goalscorer himself. He was played in behind the Groningen defense and chipped the ball over the advancing Vaessen. That goal ultimately secured all three points for Fortuna Sittard.
What does this mean for the season's start?
The victory fits into Fortuna Sittard's strong opening to this season. With two wins, one draw, and one loss from four matches, the club is firmly in mid-table. The plus-one goal difference shows a good balance between attack and defense.
The team can build on this position in the coming weeks. Their sixth place is clearly visible in our standings overview. The next fixture is an away match against ADO Den Haag on September 6, 2026. ADO Den Haag currently sits sixteenth in the table. Fans can follow the preparations via our squad page.
What did others say about the action?
Reactions to Ihattaren's behavior were harsh. A user on X wrote: "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." The incident was reported by www.livescore.com in their match coverage.
For Fortuna Sittard, the victory outweighs the controversy. The three points keep the club close to the European places. The next challenge awaits in a few days in The Hague. Complete match statistics can be found on our stats portal.
