Wael Mohya apologizes to Stuttgart fans for provocative goal celebration
Borussia Mönchengladbach's 17-year-old attacking sensation Wael Mohya has apologized to VfB Stuttgart supporters for a provocative celebration during Friday evening's dramatic 3-2 Bundesliga victory. Speaking to BILD after the match, the teenager admitted that he had deliberately celebrated in front of the Stuttgart supporters and subsequently regretted his actions.
Mohya played a decisive role in helping Gladbach end their six-match losing streak. With his side trailing early, the youngster helped spark the comeback before producing an outstanding individual run to set up Shuto Machino's 51st-minute goal.
As Get German Football Newsreported from the MHPArena, Mohya subsequently took a bow in front of the Stuttgart supporters' section. The gesture provoked an angry reaction from the home fans, who whistled the teenager as he continued to impress on the ball.
Mohya has now acknowledged that the celebration was both deliberate and inappropriate, though the youngster clearly got carried away in the heat of the moment. "I wanted to apologize to the Stuttgart fans," Mohya told BILD.
"Of course, I knew exactly what I was doing. But I think everyone makes mistakes sometimes, and my emotions simply boiled over in that moment.
Mohya follows in the footsteps of recent Bundesliga celebration controversy The incident comes less than two weeks after another contentious goal celebration involving Borussia Mönchengladbach. During Gladbach's 2-1 Rhein-Derby defeat against 1.
FC Köln on October 11, Joe Scally celebrated his equalizer in front of the home supporters. Köln matchwinner Said El Mala subsequentlyexplained t that his own provocative celebration was an act of retaliation.
El Mala described his gesture as a response to what he considered inappropriate behavior from the Gladbach players, emphasizing that celebrating in front of opposing supporters was unacceptable. Friday's incident in Stuttgart therefore represented another occasion on which a Gladbach player's celebrations became a talking point, although Mohya was quick to acknowledge his mistake.
Scally,who scored himself in the Stuttgart victory and assisted on Mohya's goal, wasn't the one at the center of the controversy this time. Teenager's apology follows outstanding Gladbach performance The controversy should not overshadow the significance of Mohya's performance."