The Netherlands have been labelled 'sour winners' after an ugly brawl erupted following the men's hockey team's gold medal win over Germany.
The Dutch beat their German rivals 3-1 in a dramatic shootout following a 1-1 draw to take the top prize, with Duco Telgenkamp firing home the final penalty shot past goalkeeper Jean-Paul Danneberg.
Telgenkamp then got in Danneberg's face afterwards with a shushing gesture, onsetting feisty scenes as Niklas Wellen rushed over to defend his goalkeeper.
The Dutchman's jeer appeared to be in response to Danneberg's pre-match comments, in which he suggested the Netherlands were afraid of the German team.
Telgenkamp was then seen putting his hand on German star Wellen's throat while a handful of players celebrated their victory a short distance away.
The ill-tempered scrap has not gone down well with fans watching at home, who took to social media in their droves to condemn the Dutch team.
'Could have won with dignity but just had to be a sore winner,' said one fan on Reddit.
Another said: 'Was wondering why a fight broke out until they showed this after. Not cool from the winners.'
'Embarrassed to my core,' said a third fan. 'Bunch of privileged brats.'
'I think the goalie feels bad enough,' added another fan. 'You don't need to taunt. Go celebrate your gold.'
A fifth fan said: 'Embarrassing. Sour winners are worse than sour losers.'
'Depends on what the German said but that is messed up,' said another Reddit user. 'Be the bigger men enjoy the gold.'
Thursday's win gave the Dutch men their third gold medal and 10th medal overall in hockey since 1928. They last won gold at the Sydney Games in 2000, having lost in the 2004 and 2012 finals.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was in the stands to watch his country as cries of 'Holland!' and 'Deutschland!' competed with each other throughout a tightly contested defensive match-up.
Germany and the Netherlands were held to six and seven shots respectively, with the Germans having 57% possession but the Dutch double the attacking circle penetrations with 20.
Netherlands captain Thierry Brinkman finally opened the scoring in the 46th minute by redirecting a shot from teammate Koen Bijen that was lifted over Danneberg.
Germany defender Gonzalo Peillat saved his side in the 49th minute by catching a shot in the middle of his stick on the goal line that had gone over a prone Danneberg, who had made a diving save to keep out a shot moments before.
Germany then immediately pressured the Dutch defence which gave up a penalty corner. Midfielder Thies Prinz used it to pull his side level by backing up out of the circle and lining up a shot that flew past goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak.
The Netherlands were awarded a penalty corner in the final minute, which defender Jip Janssen ripped off his stick but it went wide and the game went to a penalty shootout.
Danneberg stifled the first penalty by Jonas de Geus by diving to block the shot, while Pirmin responded by holding the ball between his gloves from Niklas Wellen.
Danneberg also kept the second penalty out, catching it with his pad hand while diving. Pirmin then caught Hannes Mueller's attempt with his pad to keep the shootout score at 0-0.
Brinkman netted the first shootout goal of the set with a spinning backhand lifting the ball between Danneberg's leg and stick. Pirmin then saved Prinz's shot with his pad hand.
Thijs van Dam followed his skipper and slotted the ball between Danneberg's legs, leaving the Germans on the ropes.
Justus Weigand scored the first German shootout goal by working around Pirmin's pad side, but it was too late as Telgenkamp's shot rang off the boards to give the Dutch gold, leaving Germany with their last shot in hand.
