Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has been banned for a further match and slapped with a £100,000 fine for admitting to using “abusive” and “insulting” language towards the officials during the Reds’ win over Newcastle United last month.
During a chaotic first half at St James’ Park, Trent Alexander-Arnold controversially escaped a red card for two bookable offences before Anthony Gordon capitalised on a mistake from the right-back to put Newcastle a goal to the good.
Only a few moments after Gordon had opened the scoring, Van Dijk tripped Alexander Isak’s heels as the Swede was running through on goal, and he was immediately ejected from the field for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
The VAR room backed up Brooks’s decision, but Van Dijk remonstrated with the officiating team with some choice words before belatedly trudging down the tunnel, having been ushered along by Jurgen Klopp.
The 10 men of Liverpool still managed to pull off a remarkable 2-1 win thanks to a late brace from Darwin Nunez, although there were immediately fears of an extended ban for their skipper.
Van Dijk was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association two days after the match, and the governing body has now announced that the Netherlands international has admitted his offence.
As a result, Van Dijk will not be available for Liverpool’s first game back after the international break, which comes away to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday 16, having already sat out their 3-0 win over Aston Villa.
In addition, the former Celtic and Southampton man has been slapped with a hefty fine of £100,000, which was imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission.
“Virgil van Dijk has been suspended for one match and fined £100,000 for breaching FA rule E3.1 during Liverpool’s Premier League fixture against Newcastle United on Sunday 27 August,” an FA statement read.
“The defender admitted that he acted in an improper manner and used abusive and insulting words towards a match official after being sent off in the 29th minute, and the sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission. Full written reasons for this case will be published in due course.”
With Van Dijk suspended and Ibrahima Konate missing out due to a hamstring injury, Liverpool boss Klopp called upon Joe Gomez and Joel Matip to pair up the back during the visit of a hitherto free-scoring Villa.
The Reds had failed to bring in a new centre-back before the transfer window closed, but Gomez in particular earned plaudits for his display as Liverpool kept Unai Emery’s side at bay.
While Van Dijk will return for Liverpool’s Europa League opener away to LASK Linz on Thursday, Konate’s availability is clouded in uncertainty as he battles back from his hamstring issue.
The 24-year-old was called up to the France squad for September’s international fixtures, but he was ultimately forced to withdraw and was replaced by Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo.
Meanwhile, Van Dijk was named in the starting lineup for the Netherlands’ 3-0 win over Greece in Euro 2024 qualifying on Thursday, where his Liverpool teammate Cody Gakpo was on target.
