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Aug 31, 2023

Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk charged by FA over reaction to red card at Newcastle

Virgil van Dijk has been charged with acting in an improper manner in the aftermath of being shown a red card at Newcastle on Sunday. The Liverpool captain was dismissed for a foul on Alexander Isak

Virgil van Dijk has been charged with acting in an improper manner in the aftermath of being shown a red card at Newcastle on Sunday.

The Liverpool captain was dismissed for a foul on Alexander Isak in the first half of his side’s 2-1 victory at St James’ Park but the centre-back initially refused to leave the pitch and then remonstrated with the referee, John Brooks.

The red card earned him an automatic one-match ban against Aston Villa this Sunday but the suspension could be increased, which could force him to sit out the trip to Wolves the following weekend.

“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,” read a statement from the Football Association. “It’s alleged that the defender acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official.”

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Van Dijk has until Friday to respond to the charge.