New tunnel footage reveals Virgil van Dijk’s clash with PSG officials at half-time over Ibrahima Konate challenge in Liverpool’s smash-and-grab win
New footage from the tunnel at the Parc des Princes has revealed a clash between Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Luis Campos.
Campos raged at the decision by the referee not to show Reds defender Ibrahima Konate a red card for a push on Bradley Barcola in the first half. The incident was checked by VAR but the officials decided against any further action after a two-minute review.
Still incensed by the call at the break, Campos plead his case as the players returned to the dressing room. However, Reds skipper Van Dijk appeared to take issue with the passionate appeal and hit back with a scathing jibe.
‘It’s not Ligue 1 here, bro,’ the Dutchman could be heard saying above the smattering of voices drawn to the commotion.
Konate has been viewed as largely fortunate to escape censure for the shove on his international colleague in the hours that have followed.
Former defender Rio Ferdinand insisted that the coming-together was a foul and should have resulted in a red card, given Konate appeared to deny a goalscoring opportunity and the contact took place outside of the penalty area.
Virgil van Dijk had a stern response to claims from PSG sporting director Luis Campos at half time
The Portuguese believed that his side should have been awarded a penalty or Konate should have been shown a red card for a shove on Bradley Barcola
Konate was fortunate to escape without punishment during the first half of the clash at the Parc des Princes
‘That’s a foul,’ said the Manchester United icon while commenting on the TNT Sports game. ‘And that’s in his back, that’s a foul. It’s a red card.’
‘It’s that’s not a red card, I’ll be amazed,’ added Ferdinand during the VAR checks.
‘And it will be a shame if it does go down to 10 against 11 in that sense, because you want the best players playing it equally in the 90 minutes.’
Speaking at half-time on TNT Sports, Ferdinand said: ‘I can’t believe how lucky Liverpool are here. How has VAR not picked it up.
‘He is barging between the shoulder blades on his back.’
The man at the centre of the furore rejected claims that he should have dismissed for the challenge.
Speaking to Canal Plus, Konate said: ‘There was a VAR check. If there was a push, like you said, I would have been shown a red card. I’m telling you that there wasn’t a foul.’
He went on to add: ‘It’s true that I am very strong but I don’t apply power, I just put my arm. If I had put a lot more power into it then we could talk about it… but it was soft from me.’
PSG’s anger was compounded when Liverpool snatched a late winner through substitute Harvey Elliott, putting the Premier League side in control ahead of next week’s second leg at Anfield.
