Virgil van Dijk expressed on Saturday that he has learned a valuable lesson at a great cost after being handed an additional one-game suspension and a £100,000 fine for his furious reaction to a red card in a game against Newcastle.
The Dutch defender admitted to behaving improperly following his dismissal for a foul on Newcastle’s Alexander Isak during Liverpool’s 2-1 victory at St James’ Park in August.
Van Dijk strongly believed that his tackle did not warrant a sending off, and as a result, he initially refused to leave the pitch, engaging in a heated argument with referee John Brooks while also using profanity. He received an automatic one-match ban, causing him to miss the 3-0 win over Aston Villa before the international break.
However, on Friday, he was dealt an additional suspension, preventing him from participating in Liverpool’s upcoming match against Wolves on September 16th.
During the Netherlands’ pre-match press conference ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifier against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin, Van Dijk described the experience as a difficult and costly lesson. He stated, “I can’t say much more about it. I have accepted it, and I am relieved that it is finally over.” The center-back also added, “Hopefully, the money goes to the right people. A good cause is always preferable.”
The Sunday match in Group B is crucial for Ireland, as they currently trail the Dutch by three points, despite having played one more game.
