The second game of Virgil van Dijk’s suspension will prevent him from representing Liverpool when they travel to Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday.
Before the international break, Van Dijk already missed Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa because he was serving a one-match suspension for a last-man challenge on Alexander Isak in the 2-1 triumph over Newcastle United.
The Dutchman was also accused of speaking to a match official in a “abusive and/or insulting manner” and acting in a “improper manner.” Van Dijk received a second one-match suspension and will miss the encounter at Molineux because he chose to accept the allegations against him rather than file an appeal.
The 32-year-old also earned a $125k (£100k/€116k) fine, one of the highest in Premier League history, according to Jack Lusby of This is Anfield. This is Anfield’s Jack Lusby claims that the fine is in addition to the sporting penalty that the 32-year-old received.
When racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand in 2011, Chelsea’s John Terry was sentenced to pay $249k/£220k/€233k and receive a four-game suspension. Roy Keane of Manchester United received a $187k/£150k/€175k fine and a six-game suspension after confessing to intentionally injuring Alf-Inge Haaland of Manchester City ten years earlier.
 The fact that Van Dijk has been fined more than former Fulham striker Alexander Mitrovi, who only had to pay $93k (£75k/€87k) despite pushing referee Chris Kavanagh during an FA Cup loss to Manchester United, is significant. However, fines exceeding six figures are extremely uncommon. Mitrovi was also suspended for eight games, but it is unclear why there seems to be a financial discrepancy.
