Virgil van Dijk learns FA punishment fate as unseen footage of Gordon incident emerges | Football | Sport
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk will not face punishment from the Football Association over his involvement in an incident with Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon on Wednesday.
Van Dijk and Gordon clashed off the ball in the first half when the Magpies were leading 1-0, as the teams played 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.
The Premier League clarified their guidance on red card decisions at the start of the 2024-25 campaign, stating that only incidents “not captured by the match officials or VAR can be referred to the FA’s retrospective disciplinary process.”
It is because the VAR appeared to check Van Dijk’s alleged offence for a dismissal that he will not face any further action from the FA.
It’s not the first time Van Dijk has found himself in hot water at St James’ Park. In August 2023, he was dismissed for a professional foul on Alexander Isak and handed a one-game ban, in addition to a £100,000 fine after comments made towards the officials.
Former Premier League stars Roy Keane and Ian Wright, both working as part of a ‘Stick to Football’ podcast watchalong, claimed that Van Dijk was lucky to avoid a dismissal.
“He knows exactly what he’s doing. That’s a pen,” Wright said. Manchester United icon Keane agreed, adding: “That’s a penalty.”
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe fumed at the officials’ handling of three incidents during the game, including the decision not to brandish a red card to Van Dijk.
“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.
“I thought it was a penalty on Alex, but I haven’t seen a replay, that was just an initial thought,” he added.
Newcastle became the first team to halt Liverpool‘s seven-game winning run across all competitions after Gordon’s late leveller.
Mohamed Salah‘s double had put the Reds on the verge of victory after coming back from a goal down twice, but the England international had the last laugh after his clash with Van Dijk.
