Anthem debut and a missed call: Ziggo’s slip in NEC‑Bodø’ clash

Wednesday night turned memorable as the Champions League anthem, the League-hymne, echoed for the first time in NEC’s De Goffert stadium, while the NEC‑Bodø’ clash saw ‑commentator Wytse van der Goot fail to spot a clear handball that should have given Bodø/Glimt a penalty.

Pre‑match expectations

Tegen Bodø/Glimt the side coached by Dick Schreuder was urged to be sharp from the opening whistle. The expectation was clear, yet ‑commentator Wytse van der Goot appeared far from that level of alertness.

Controversial handball and commentary

After a series of attacks the ball fell to a scramble between Jens Hauge and Brayann Pereira inside the Nijmeegse penalty area. The referee, after a brief confusion, pointed decisively to the penalty spot. Replays showed Pereira had inadvertently handled the ball, but Hauge had already touched it with his arm, meaning the incident could not be ruled a penalty. Van der Goot did not mention the decision on air, only murmuring it after the referee lingered at the VAR screen. Consequently, no penalty was awarded to the Norwegian side.

The night’s soundtrack – the Champions League‑hymne playing in De Goffert – contrasted sharply with the commentator’s missed call, a point repeatedly highlighted in social‑media posts. Fans posted remarks such as “Geen penalty! Iedereen had het al gezien behalve de scheidsrechter” and mocked the commentator with tags #Wytsevandergoot and #necbod. The hashtag frenzy even referenced the fixture as NEC‑Bodø’ in the comments. These reactions underscored how the evening will be remembered both for the historic anthem debut and the puzzling Ziggo departure.