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Virgil van Dijk has reportedly been charged by the FA for his reaction to receiving a red card against Newcastle on the weekend.
The Dutchman was shown his marching orders by referee John Brooks in the first half of Liverpool’s clash at St James’ Park, after bringing down Alexander Isak outside the area.
Van Dijk was adjudged to have denied a goalscoring opportunity by taking out the Magpies forward to retrieve the ball.
The 32-year-old was visibly furious with the decision, and even more so when VAR decided not to overturn it. He took out his frustrations on referee Brooks, and continued his protests on the sidelines.
ESPN journalist Mark Ogden has since claimed that he will be charged for his behaviour, which was allegedly deemed ‘a***ive’ by the FA.
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He tweeted: “Van Dijk charged by FA after he allegedly ‘acted in an improper manner and/or used a***ive and/or insulting words towards a match official after being sent off in the 29th minute’ at Newcastle.”
Indeed, Van Dijk could be heard shouting expletives in the direction of Brooks and reportedly labelled the decision a “******* joke”, with his manager needing to calm him down.
The former Southampton defender was initially handed a one-match ban, as is the protocol for a red card offence in the Premier League. However, the possibility has been raised that the Dutchman could be handed a larger ban, especially following the latest reports.
Former referee Mike Dean also reckons Van Dijk could be in “further trouble” for his reaction to the decision.
He told the Daily Mail: “Van Dijk disagreed as he unleashed a verbal volley on fourth official Craig Pawson, which was out of line.
“Depending on what is written in the referee’s report, Van Dijk may find himself in further trouble with the football authorities.”
While Jurgen Klopp sided with his captain, stating in a press conference after the game: “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.”