Virgil van Dijk questions referee Stuart Attwell’s decision not to send off Lucas Bergvall, whose goal secured a 1-0 win for Spurs in the Carabao Cup semifinal first leg.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk slams referee Stuart Attwell’s decision not to issue Tottenham Hotspur’s Lucas Bergvall a second yellow card during the Carabao Cup semifinal first leg, which saw the 18-year-old score the decisive goal in Spurs’ 1-0 victory.
The controversy came up late in the game when Bergvall, already on a booking for a foul on Luis Díaz, escaped further punishment after a late challenge on Kostas Tsimikas. Attwell allowed play to continue, and moments later, Bergvall scored the only goal in the match.
Speaking with the media Van Dijk stated that “It was quite obvious there was going to be a second yellow. A minute later, he scores the winner. Listen, it is what it is. [The referee] made a mistake in my opinion, and I told him that. He thinks he didn’t. Everyone on the sideline knew it. There’s a linesman, a fourth official, and VAR… and he doesn’t get a second yellow. I’m not saying this is the reason we lost, but it was a big moment in the game.”
He further stated that “We played against an intense team with good attacking players who keep running and make it difficult,” Van Dijk said. “At times we could have done better. That’s part of football.”
Tottenham manager Arne Slot also weighed in, agreeing with Van Dijk that the referee’s decision significantly impacted the outcome.
The second leg of the semifinal will take place at Anfield on February 6, with Liverpool facing a one-goal deficit. Before that, Liverpool will turn their attention to the FA Cup, where they face League Two side Accrington Stanley on Saturday. Meanwhile, Spurs will travel to National League club Tamworth in their own FA Cup third-round tie.
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