
As a result of his involvement in an incident with Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United on Wednesday, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk will not be disciplined by the Football Association.
In the first half, while the Magpies were ahead 1-0, Van Dijk and Gordon collided off the ball as the teams battled out a 3-3 draw at St. James’ Park.
Unseen footage of the incident appears to show the Dutch defender barging towards Gordon with his shoulder with the ball nowhere in sight.
Amazon Prime commentator Clive Tyldesley referenced that VAR had checked the incident for a potential red card. However, the officials at Stockley Park deemed that the incident was not worthy of a red card offence for violent conduct.
The replays suggested Van Dijk was fortunate to escape a sending off both from the referee Andy Madley on the pitch and VAR. But Newcastle fans are unlikely to be happy with the fact that the 33-year-old cannot be retrospective punished either.
When the 2024–25 season began, the Premier League made it clear that only situations “not captured by the match officials or VAR can be referred to the FA’s retrospective disciplinary process.”
Van Dijk will not face any further action from the FA because the VAR seemed to check his alleged offense for a dismissal.
Van Dijk has already dealt with controversy at St. James’ Park. He was sent off for a professional foul on Alexander Isak in August 2023, and he also received a one-game suspension and a £100,000 fine for his remarks about the referees.
As part of a ‘Stick to Football’ podcast watchalong, former Premier League players Ian Wright and Roy Keane believed that Van Dijk was fortunate to escape termination.
“He is fully aware of what he is doing. Wright remarked, “That’s a pen.” In agreement, Manchester United legend Keane said, “That’s a penalty.”
Eddie Howe, the manager of Newcastle, was incensed by the way the referees handled three instances throughout the match, including the choice to not give Van Dijk a red card.
“I think VAR looked at [the Van Dijk and Gordon incident] and concluded nothing happened, so we have to accept it. I was surprised by it initially though,” Howe said.
Newcastle were also unhappy with an incident between Jarell Quansah and Alexander Isak in the penalty area, with the former appearing to trip the Swede inside the box.
He continued, “I initially believed it was a penalty on Alex, but I haven’t seen a replay.”
Gordon’s late equalizer made Newcastle the first team to end Liverpool’s seven-game winning streak in all competitions.
The England international had the last laugh following his altercation with Van Dijk, but Mohamed Salah’s double had put the Reds on the edge of victory after they had twice recovered from a goal down.