Holland star slammed for wildly celebrating goal moments after Hungary coach collapsed
Wout Weghorst scored the Netherlands' first goal in their UEFA Nations League win over Hungary but the match was earlier stopped as Hungary coach Adam Szalai was hospitalised
Former Manchester United and Burnley striker Wout Weghorst has been blasted for celebrating a goal just minutes after Hungary’s assistant coach Adam Szalai was taken to hospital during a Nations League clash in Amsterdam.
Weghorst could not hide his delight when he fired Holland ahead from the penalty spot after 21 minutes as Ronald Koeman’s men ran out 4-0 winners in the Johan Cruyff Arena. Play was controversially restarted with a penalty following a VAR check after a delay of more than 10 minutes after 36-year-old Szalai had collapsed on the touchline.
A medical tent was erected around the former Real Madrid, Mainz, Schalke, Hoffenheim and Basel striker, who was transported to the Amsterdam University Hospital by ambulance after being stabilised by doctors. Latest reports have confirmed that Szalai is in intensive care. But Weghorst’s reaction to his goal has been hammered in Holland.
The 32-year-old came forward to score from the spot after referee Jesus Gil Manzano was alerted by the VAR to a possible handball. Weghorst then ran to the corner flag to celebrate with a flamboyant knee slide before pumping the air with both fists.
Former Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart was at the game working as a TV analyst. He raged: “Watching Weghorst celebrate made me sick to the stomach.
“He should have realised that Hungary’s players were actually entitled to abandon the match and go to the dressing room. Instead they had a meeting on the pitch and decided to resume playing. That deserves massive respect because none of those players knew what the situation was at that moment.
“They decided to carry on, Netherlands got a penalty - and then Weghorst started celebrating as if he had scored the winner in the World Cup final. He should have cut that out.”
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Former Nottingham Forest and Celtic striker Pierre van Hooijdonk, who was on co-commentary added: “It would have been so much more appropriate if Weghorst had not celebrated.”
Weghorst was also condemned by Dutch fans on social media. One post read: “Never play him again - Koeman should have taken him off immediately.”
Weghorst, 32, who now plays for Amsterdam giants Ajax, spent six months on-loan at United after failing to impress at Burnley following his £12million arrival at Turf Moor from Wolfsburg in January 2022.
Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai was one of a number of Hungarian players who were visibly distressed after 6ft 4ins Szalai collapsed. Szoboszlai was comforted by his Kop captain Virgil van Dijk as medics treated the man who won 86 caps for his country before moving into coaching at the end of last season.
Van Dijk later told reporters that his team-mate had told him that he had seen Szalai collapse before. Van Dijk said: “I could see him lying there while his body was shaking. I was standing next to Szoboszlai and asked him if the coach had any history like this and Dominik said he did. It was a shock for everyone. I found it scary to see him lying there. I really hope he is stable and will recover fully. His recovery is more important than anything.”
Asked if it was difficult to carry on playing, Van Dijk added: “It certainly was for the Hungary team. They had to decide if they wanted to carry on. We were patiently waiting for the outcome. I think it says a lot about their strength that they wanted to carry on. I have the utmost respect for them.”
Szalai scored 26 goals for Hungary during an international career that stretched between 2009 and 2022. He joined Marco Rossi’s backroom staff last month.
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