Ex-players have 'duty of responsibility' as pundits - Van Dijk

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has emphasized the responsibility former players turned pundits have towards the new generation of footballers when commenting on their performances. Speaking to Sky Sports' Gary Neville, the defender highlighted concerns that pundits' opinions sometimes veer into clickbait and provocative statements without considering the mental health impact on players. Van Dijk expressed particular worry for younger athletes who are constantly exposed to social media. This is not the first time Van Dijk has addressed the issue this season. In November, he criticized Wayne Rooney for blaming a lack of leadership for Liverpool's poor form, calling it 'lazy criticism.' The Dutchman revisited the topic days later during a broadcast on Amazon Prime following Liverpool's Champions League win against Real Madrid. The debate over pundits' comments resurfaced last month when former Manchester United players Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt made remarks about current United defender Lisandro Martinez. Butt suggested that Erling Haaland would overpower Martinez, while Scholes implied Haaland would 'throw him in the net' after scoring. Martinez responded by stating that pundits can comment on television but rarely say anything directly to players' faces. Van Dijk reiterated that while criticism is part of the game, it should not cross into harmful territory. He noted that younger players are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of social media, where they may face bullying and harsh criticism after poor performances. The 34-year-old acknowledged that the issue is likely to worsen with the growing influence of social media platforms and the prevalence of clickbait headlines.