Wout Weghorst scored a stoppage-time penalty to secure a 2-2 draw for FC Twente against Ajax on November 8, 2026.
The match generated fierce debate on the pitch and across social media. Feyenoord legend Willem van Hanegem weighed in on the performance of both teams and the behavior of the players after the final whistle. According to Twente Insite, Van Hanegem criticized Wout Weghorst and Tolu Arokodare for praying together on the pitch immediately following the match.
Van Hanegem questioned the timing and visibility of the players’ public display of faith. He noted that the players could have easily prayed inside the stadium corridors or dressing rooms without cameras capturing the moment. “They didn’t think that was strange themselves, and that is precisely the strange thing,” Van Hanegem wrote in his Algemeen Dagblad column, as reported by Ajax Showtime.
He added that conducting the prayer on the field made the act feel less pure and suggested it was done for the cameras. The former international compared the public prayer to an absurd hypothetical scenario. “But if Wout enjoys riding five laps around the field on a BMX bike afterwards, no one says: Why not? Just do it!” he stated.
Beyond the post-match scenes, Van Hanegem analyzed the competitive balance of the Eredivisie. He praised Twente’s overall level of play, arguing that the Tukkers do not fall short compared to the traditional top three of PSV, Ajax, and Feyenoord.
Ajax Showtime reported that Van Hanegem was particularly impressed by Weghorst’s performance during the fixture. Defender Aaron Bouwman struggled to contain the Twente striker, who also converted his late penalty kick. “Overigens speelde hij wel goed”, vervolgt het Feyenoord-icoon.
Referee Joey Kooij drew criticism from the analyst for a late stoppage. Ajax Showtime noted that Van Hanegem could not understand why the referee checked for an Ajax penalty while Twente was in the middle of a promising counterattack.
“Even affluiten, zelden gezien dit,” Van Hanegem remarked regarding the controversial stoppage. He also pointed out a late incident involving defender Lucas Rosa pulling an opponent’s shirt, noting that the referee could easily have pointed to the penalty spot.
Soccernews.nl highlighted the hostile online reception Weghorst faced from a section of Ajax supporters following his late equalizer. Fans on X expressed extreme frustration over the striker’s celebration against his former club, with some posting derogatory remarks about his past ties to Amsterdam.
Despite the backlash from opposing supporters on social media, Weghorst drew praise for his performance and for scoring from the penalty spot to help FC Twente secure a draw against Ajax.
In the podcast Willem & Wessel, De Kromme reveals that he is annoyed by it. Presenter Wessel Penning, in particular, watched the results with astonishment. Van Hanegem expressed annoyance at Weghorst pointing to the sky after scoring, questioning the meaning of the gesture and asking him to act normally. “I also find it annoying when a goal is scored and they all go down on their knees.”
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