Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has raised eyebrows by suggesting that Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool’s captain, has been receiving preferential treatment from match officials and should have been sent off during the recent match at Fulham.
Van Dijk’s Controversial Moments at Fulham
The highly-regarded Dutch defender has faced questions all season about his future with Liverpool, with a potential new contract now in the works. However, his on-field actions continue to draw attention. During Liverpool’s Premier League clash against Fulham on April 6, Van Dijk was involved in several controversial incidents.
Hackett, who once served as the chief of Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), believes Van Dijk should have been penalized for a collision with Rodrigo Muniz, and even sent off after an incident involving Sander Berge. The latter, according to Hackett, involved Van Dijk flailing his arm and catching Berge, which Hackett deems a red-card offense.
Hackett’s Key Critique: Preferential Treatment?
Hackett’s main concern, however, lies in Van Dijk’s relationship with match officials. He noted that, one hour before kick-off, the Liverpool captain meets with referees in the referee’s dressing room, possibly creating an overly amicable relationship between the two. Hackett suggests this dynamic could influence the way referees view Van Dijk’s actions on the field.
While the penalty decision against Muniz may have been debatable, Hackett feels the incident with Berge was a clear foul. He believes that Van Dijk’s reputation and position within the game might be causing referees to overlook certain offenses, sparking a larger conversation about how star players are treated by officials.
