Anthony Gordon apologizes to Virgil van Dijk

Anthony Gordon expressed regret and apologized to Liverpool’s captain Virgil van Dijk after a dangerous tackle in the game between Newcastle and Liverpool.

Newcastle midfielder Anthony Gordon attracted attention after the match against Liverpool by publicly apologizing to captain Virgil van Dijk for a controversial tackle that resulted in a straight red card. Gordon’s post-match statement showed remorse and emphasized that there was no malicious intent in the incident.

The tackle occurred near the end of the first half when Gordon made a fierce attempt to win the ball from Van Dijk. Gordon’s foot scraped the Liverpool captain’s calf, prompting referee Simon Hooper to initially issue a yellow card. However, after consulting VAR, the referee upgraded the decision to a direct red card, sending Gordon off to the disappointment of fans.

Immediately after the match, Gordon offered a sincere apology to fans and teammates. He wrote: "I want to sincerely apologize to my teammates and the supporters. My intentions were completely pure. I was just trying to bring energy into the game and ended up committing a tackle." Gordon admitted that the tackle was a wrong decision at the wrong time but stressed that there was no ill will toward Van Dijk or any other player.

Beyond apologizing to the team and fans, Gordon also extended a direct apology to Van Dijk, who was directly impacted by the foul. He added: "I also want to apologize to Virgil. I never intended to challenge anyone like that. We spoke afterward, and he understood."

Despite receiving a red card and being sent off, Gordon expressed pride in his team’s performance: "More importantly, I’m proud of the time I spent on the pitch and how we played tonight. The atmosphere you all create is what makes St. James' Park special."

Concluding his message, Gordon promised to come back stronger: "I love everything we represent as a club, and nothing is more important right now. I will return stronger, just like after every setback I’ve faced. See you all soon."