Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has broken his silence on the controversial red card shown to his Netherlands teammate, Tottenham Hotspur's Xavi Simons, during a pivotal Premier League clash on Saturday, 21st December 2025.
The Incident That Changed the Game
With the score still goalless in north London, a challenge from Spurs midfielder Xavi Simons on Van Dijk led to a major turning point. Simons, initially shown a yellow card by referee John Brooks, saw the decision upgraded to a straight red after a VAR intervention. Officials at Stockley Park advised Brooks to review the monitor, where he concluded the Tottenham No.7, with studs, caught the Liverpool player [No.4] on the calf high, deeming it an act of serious foul play.
Van Dijk admitted the tackle from his international colleague was painful. "I don't think there was any intention to hurt me but obviously he hurt me and then the referee and the VAR made the decision to send him off," the Liverpool defender stated in his post-match comments.
Post-Match Fallout and Reactions
The dismissal of Simons, followed later by a red card for Cristian Romero as Spurs chased the game, left the home side with nine men. Liverpool capitalised to secure a 2-1 victory, strengthening their position as Premier League champions.
While Van Dijk kept the details of his private conversation with Simons confidential, he confirmed they had spoken. "Yeah I spoke to him [after the game]. It's a chat that no-one needs to know," he said. Simons took to social media to apologise, calling the challenge a mistake and insisting he would never intentionally injure his national team captain or anyone else.
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank was fiercely critical of the decision, arguing it was overly harsh. "I've seen them given but I don't like this as a red card," Frank said. "It's not reckless and it's not exceptional force... He gets three games. That is absolutely wrong."
What Happens Next for Tottenham and Simons?
The immediate consequence for Xavi Simons is a three-match suspension for serious foul play, a ban Spurs are reportedly pessimistic about appealing. His absence will be a significant blow to Thomas Frank's midfield options in the busy festive fixture schedule.
The incident has reignited debate over the consistency of VAR rulings in the Premier League, particularly concerning challenges deemed to endanger player safety. For Liverpool, the win was a crucial three points, but the focus post-match remained firmly on the contentious moment between two key Dutch stars.
