Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has been suspended for an
extra match and fined £100,000 after admitting he acted in an improper manner
following his red card in a win at Newcastle United.
The defender was sent
off in the 28th minute for fouling Alexander Isak.
Van Dijk was banned
against Aston Villa on 3 September and will be unavailable to face Wolves on 16
September.
He appeared to
remonstrate with referee John Brooks prior to walking off the pitch at St
James' Park.
Netherlands center-back Van Dijk, 32, also appeared to argue
with the fourth official before making his way down the tunnel.
"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," said an FA statement.
Writing on Instagram
Van Dijk said: "I'd just like to make it clear I totally accept the
panel's decision.
"It was my first
red card of my Liverpool career and I let my frustrations get the better of me
in an intense and heated moment.
"I apologized
immediately after the game to the match officials and take full
responsibility."
Referees' chief Howard
Webb has said he is "determined" officials would not "turn a
blind eye" to bad behavior from players and coaches this season.
Webb, speaking on
Match Officials: Mic'd Up, backed the decision of Brooks to dismiss Van Dijk.
"We think it's a
good identification of a foul by John Brooks the referee," said Webb.
"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 VAR checks it."
The incident occurred
three minutes after Liverpool went behind Anthony Gordon's opening goal and with
the visitors under pressure in the game.
Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez came off the bench to score twice late on and hand Liverpool a 2-1 victory
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