Virgil van Dijk has been charged by the Football Association with improper conduct after allegedly swearing at and confronting officials following his red card at Newcastle on Sunday.

The Liverpool captain was sent off for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity to Alexander Isak during Liverpool’s win at St James’ Park, which warranted a default one-match ban.

But as Mail Sport reported on Sunday, Van Dijk could now miss an additional match at least through suspension after appearing to label the decision as a ‘f***ing joke’, taking time to leave the field of play and then remonstrating with fourth official Craig Pawson.

An FA statement on Tuesday night read: ‘It’s alleged that the defender acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official after being sent off in the 29th minute.

‘Virgil Van Dijk has until Friday, 1 September to provide a response to this charge.’

Virgil van Dijk (middle) has been charged by the FA after being sent off in Liverpool’s win over Newcastle on Sunday

Van Dijk has until Friday to provide a response to the FA charge for his actions against Newcastle

Van Dijk and his representatives on Tuesday night were undecided whether to accept or deny the charges.

Per the Football Association’s guidelines, the conduct could constitute ‘improper conduct’, which covers actions that can be said to be ‘confrontational’ in manner. The player was clearly agitated as he left the field.

Previous instances have seen players get further matches added to their suspension for conduct following red cards. In 2015, Arsenal’s Gabriel Paulista was given a one-match ban for protesting a sending off.

The defender had his actual three-match ban for the red card ultimately overturned but was given a suspension of one game due to his improper conduct towards officials, demonstrating that the harshness of the sending off decision is irrelevant.

The sending off was Van Dijk’s first for Liverpool since he arrived for a then world-record fee of £75m in 2017 from Southampton.

A three-match ban would see him miss upcoming matches against Aston Villa, Wolves, and West Ham.

Liverpool host Aston Villa on Sunday and will be without their captain, while fellow defender Ibou Konate is a doubt for the match after missing the trip to Newcastle with a muscle injury.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (middle) was seen trying to calm Van Dijk (right) down

Van Dijk (middle left) was furious after being sent off by referee John Brooks (blue top)

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Virgil van Dijk CHARGED by the FA for his furious reaction to being sent off by John Brooks during Liverpool’s win over Newcastle – having appeared to call the decision a ‘f***ing joke’

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