August 29, (THEWILL) – Liverpool defender, Virgil van Dijk, has been charged by the England Football Association (FA) for improper conduct after being sent off against Newcastle United on Sunday.
The Dutch centre-back was shown a straight red card by referee John Brooks following a challenge on Newcastle’s Alexander Isak in the first half of Liverpool’s 2-1 win at St James’ Park. Van Dijk was furious with the decision and initially refused to leave the pitch as he argued with the official.
The suspension means Van Dijk will miss Liverpool’s upcoming English Premier League match against Aston Villa this weekend. However, the ban could be extended as the FA has now charged the player for using abusive or insulting language towards the referee after the game.
“It is alleged that the defender acted improperly and/or used abusive language towards the match official,” the FA said in a statement on Tuesday. Van Dijk has until Friday to respond to the charge.
Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, criticised the decision to send off his star defender, saying there was minimal contact in the challenge. “I don’t think it is a red card. There’s pretty much no contact, very little, but what can I say?” he said after the Newcastle match.
The FA’s charge means Van Dijk now faces an anxious wait to see if his suspension will be extended. Liverpool will hope to have their first-choice centre-back back as soon as possible as they look to compete on multiple fronts this season.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
