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Virgil Van Dijk of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool FC at St. James Park on August 27, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. | Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images
The Liverpool captain was sent off against Newcastle
Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk saw a straight red card in Liverpool’s comeback win against Newcastle at the weekend. The Dutch centerback went through Alexander Isak to clear the ball in a genuine attempt to play the ball, but a straight red due to it being a denial of a clear goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO).
(Many will be aware of the “double jeopardy” rule about DOGSO situations, wherein an awarded penalty is seen as replacing the “clear goalscoring opportunity” that a foul in the box would deny, so the punishment becomes a yellow card rather than a red. Because Van Dijk’s challenge took place outside the box, there is no double jeopardy, and the punishment is a free kick and a straight red.)
Liverpool are thin in the centerback department, with Ibrahima Konaté having missed the Newcastle match with injury. Van Dijk’s red card comes with a one-match suspension, but that might not be the end of it: Van Dijk did not leave the pitch quietly, and the manner of his departure could well lead to a charge from the Football Association...which could in turn mean a longer ban.
While a one-match ban is mandatory with Van Dijk’s red, the Reds will have to wait and see if the FA does more.
