Virgil van Dijk ban puts FA under pressure after Liverpool theories and inconsistency

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Joe Rimmer: Virgil van Dijk simply gave the FA no choice but to ban him and fine him for his reaction to the sending off at Newcastle.

The whole world saw what he said, and if they weren’t to act they would effectively encourage every footballer in the country – men, women and youth – to treat referees in the same manner. So a one-match ban is absolutely right. As is the fine.

But that won’t be a popular answer among some Liverpudlians – especially those who see their club at the heart of a conspiracy among referees to punish Liverpool at every turn. And while that is simply untrue, the FA can do so much more to stop putting fuel on the conspiracy theorists’ fire.

Howard Webb is trying with his Mic’d Up initiative but the FA must be seen to enforce their rules fairly. They’ve made an example of Van Dijk – and rightly so – but now they must do so with every footballer who uses similar language towards an official.

And they can go further. Time-wasting rules? Apply them universally or not at all. Kicking the ball away? Punish it every time or not at all. Fans rage because they pick up on the times their players are punished and highlight the ones opposition get away with, so the FA must ensure their referees aren’t missing anything. Using VAR if necessary.

And finally, they also must punish their own for wrongdoing. A simple apology can’t be enough when officials are spotted by the world aiming elbows at footballers – no matter what was said to spark the incident. A line was crossed. Aleksander Mitrovic served a lengthy ban for being physical with an official.

Van Dijk deserved to be punished. But the only way to stop conspiracy is consistency.

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‘Van Dijk went too far’
Virgil van Dijk has to take his medicine after being handed an additional one-game ban by the FA following his behaviour when sent off against Newcastle United.

Let’s be honest, the Liverpool captain crossed the line. It doesn’t matter that referee Jon Brooks’s performance was enough to leave all those of a Reds persuasion pulling their hair out and screaming in disbelief, the Dutchman took his protestations too far.