Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk will not face punishment from the Football Association over his involvement in an incident with Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon on Wednesday.
Van Dijk and Gordon clashed off the ball in the first half when the Magpies were leading 1-0, as the teams played out a 3-3 draw at St James' Park.
Unseen footage of the incident appears to show the Dutch defender barging towards Gordon with his shoulder with the ball nowhere in sight.
Amazon Prime commentator Clive Tyldesley referenced that VAR had checked the incident for a potential red card. However, the officials at Stockley Park deemed that the incident was not worthy of a red card offence for violent conduct.
The replays suggested Van Dijk was fortunate to escape a sending off both from the referee and VAR on the pitch.
But Newcastle fans are unlikely to be happy with the fact that the 33-year-old cannot be retrospective punished either.
The Premier League clarified their guidance on red card decisions at the start of the 2024-25 campaign, stating that only incidents "not captured by the match officials or VAR can be referred to the FA's retrospective disciplinary process."
It is because the VAR appeared to check Van Dijk's alleged offence for a dismissal that he will not face any further action from the FA.
Former Premier League stars Roy Keane and Ian Wright, both working as part of a 'Stick to Football' podcast watchalong, claimed that Van Dijk was lucky to avoid a dismissal.
"He knows exactly what he’s doing. That’s a pen," Wright said. Manchester United icon Keane agreed, adding: "That’s a penalty."
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe fumed at the officials' handling of three incidents during the game, including the decision not to brandish a red card to Van Dijk.
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