Fortuna Sittard’s Danny Buijs plays down touchline clash with Shiloh ’t Zand
Fortuna Sittard head coach Danny Buijs says his animated exchange with Shiloh ’t Zand during last week’s draw against NEC has not affected their relationship. Speaking ahead of Fortuna’s meeting with Excelsior, Buijs insisted the incident was behind them, while also taking aim at criticism from Dutch journalist Valentijn Driessen.
The moment came late in Fortuna’s 2-2 Eredivisie match at NEC, when Buijs substituted ’t Zand with around ten minutes remaining. The coach appeared frustrated with the young midfielder’s conduct, calling him over, taking hold of him and directing him to sit on the substitutes’ bench. The footage quickly drew attention, turning a tense in-game exchange into a talking point beyond the result itself.
Buijs says the relationship remains strong
Asked whether he had spoken with ’t Zand about the incident during the week, Buijs said there had been no further discussion. He laughed as he explained that, in his view, the most important perspective was not that of outside commentators but the understanding between the player and his coach.
“I haven’t actually discussed it with him again at all,” Buijs said on ESPN. He added that he and ’t Zand have a good relationship and expressed confidence that they would continue to support one another. His comments suggested that the disagreement was treated as a brief moment of frustration rather than a lasting conflict inside the Fortuna Sittard squad.
That distinction matters in professional football, where coaches are expected to manage standards and discipline while also maintaining trust with players. A heated exchange can attract widespread attention, especially when cameras capture it, but the public image of a confrontation does not always reflect how those involved view it afterwards. Buijs’s message was that the working relationship remained intact and that the episode had not disrupted preparations for the next fixture.
Buijs responds to Valentijn Driessen’s criticism
Driessen had criticised the coach’s actions earlier in the week on the Kick-off podcast. He argued that coaches should not put their hands on players, even when emotions are running high. Driessen also pointed out that ’t Zand is a young footballer but an established Suriname international, and said the midfielder walked away after the exchange.
Buijs rejected the broader noise surrounding the incident and questioned the volume of opinions offered by public figures. Addressing Driessen directly, he remarked that the journalist regularly comments on a wide range of people and subjects, from Louis van Gaal and Virgil van Dijk to the way Ajax should be run.
Buijs then made a pointed comparison with television personality Johan Derksen, saying there was only one Derksen and that Driessen was not him. He described Driessen as a reporter for De Telegraaf and said he did not pay much attention to the criticism. The response shifted the discussion from the original touchline moment to a wider debate about media scrutiny and the role of outspoken football commentators.
A familiar debate about emotion and authority in football
Incidents involving coaches and players often prompt different interpretations. Some supporters may see a forceful intervention as a sign of passion or an attempt to demand focus. Others may believe that physical contact crosses a line, regardless of the coach’s intention. Driessen’s comments reflected the latter view, while Buijs focused on the relationship and mutual respect he says exist between him and ’t Zand.
The episode also highlights how quickly a brief moment during a match can become a major talking point in modern football. Broadcast footage and social media clips can circulate widely before the people involved have had an opportunity to explain what happened. That attention can create pressure for a coach to respond, even when the issue has already been settled privately within the team.
For Fortuna, the practical question is whether the incident has any impact on the squad’s focus. Buijs’s comments indicate that he does not believe it will. By saying that he and ’t Zand have not revisited the matter, the coach presented the situation as closed and redirected attention towards the team’s upcoming match against Excelsior.
Fortuna Sittard turn attention to Excelsior
The timing of the discussion comes as Fortuna prepare for another important test in their season. Matches against Eredivisie opponents can carry added significance for teams seeking consistency, particularly after a draw that featured both attacking promise and the disappointment of dropping points. The 2-2 result against NEC gave Fortuna something to build on, but the focus now moves to how they respond in their next outing.
For ’t Zand, the spotlight may bring extra attention, but his performance and contribution on the pitch will ultimately matter more than a single exchange with his coach. Young players often have to navigate the demands of senior football while learning how to handle pressure, criticism and the expectations that come with representing their club and country.
Buijs, meanwhile, has made clear that he is not interested in letting outside commentary dominate the conversation. His defence of the relationship with ’t Zand, combined with his sharp response to Driessen, ensures the incident remains a talking point—but the coach’s stated priority is the team’s work on the field.
What the incident means for Fortuna
The disagreement has generated debate, but there is no indication from Buijs’s comments that it has created a rift within the squad. His account portrays a coach-player relationship built on trust, even when emotions rise during a match. Whether supporters agree with his handling of the substitution is a separate question from whether the two have moved on.
As Fortuna Sittard face Excelsior, attention will return to the football: team selection, discipline, and the ability to turn strong moments into results. For fans searching for a Fortuna Sittard prediction or updates on the club, the key takeaway is that Buijs says the confrontation with ’t Zand has not become a dressing-room problem. The coach has drawn a line under the episode and is looking ahead to the next challenge.
