Liverpool lose captain for a further game after ban extended for “abusive” language
By Gary Jordan
Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk has had, as perhaps expected, another game added to his suspension following his red card against Newcastle United.
Liverpool star ban extended
The Liverpool defender and club captain was sent off in the dramatic match, which the Reds won with two late goals from Darwin Nunez. As well as an extra game ban, he has also been fined £100,000. The added suspension is due to his reaction to referee John Brooks, the official who sent the player off.
The game was very much in Newcastle’s favour; Anthony Gordon had just scored to put them a goal up when van Dijk clashed with Alexander Isak just before the half-hour mark. After being given his marching orders, he appeared to confront the official, and this no doubt was in the report. As he made his way off the pitch, he also clashed with the fourth official on the sideline.
The Dutchman has already served one of his games, as he missed Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa, and manager Jurgen Klopp will now have to cope again without his skipper when the Premier League returns after the international break, and the trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Officials standing firm
Howard Webb, who is the Referee’s chief, stood firm when asked about how the officials will act on new rules added in this season, and that the instructions are clear to not “turn a blind eye” to players’ abuse.
"This was backed up by the FA statement following the announcement of the ban. “The defender admitted that he acted in an improper manner and used abusive and insulting words towards a match official after being sent off, and the sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent regulatory commission.”Webb went further by saying, “We think it’s a good identification of a foul by John Brooks the referee. We see Virgil van Dijk does play the ball, but to get there he clearly kicks through the foot of Alexander Isak. It’s not only a free kick but it also denies Isak an obvious goalscoring opportunity. He has to be sent off in this circumstance and the AVR checks it.”"