EPL
Virgil van Dijk has been charged by the Football Association with allegedly using “abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official” after the Liverpool captain was sent off against Newcastle on Sunday.
The 32-year-old centre-back received a red card in the first half at St James’ Park after bringing down Alexander Isak. As Van Dijk left the pitch, he was seen remonstrating with match officials, including referee John Brooks.
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Liverpool were 1-0 down at the time but fought back with ten men to win 2-1 with two late strikes from substitute Darwin Nunez.
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On the red-card decision, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “I don’t think it is a red card. It’s pretty much no contact, very little, and it’s on the way to the ball, but what can I say? The decision is like this, I cannot change it and I don’t want it. It’s just, would I give this in a training game? Definitely not. There are reasons why I am not a ref and they are.”
The FA statement said: “Virgil Van Dijk has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3.1 following Liverpool’s Premier League game against Newcastle United on Sunday, 27 August.
“It’s alleged that the defender acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official after being sent off in the 29th minute.
“Virgil Van Dijk has until Friday, 1 September to provide a response to this charge.”
(Photo: Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
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James Pearce joins the Athletic after 14 years working for the Liverpool Echo. The dad-of-two has spent the past decade covering the fortunes of Liverpool FC across the globe to give fans the inside track on the Reds from the dressing room to the boardroom. Follow James on Twitter @JamesPearceLFC