The Professional Game Match Officials Limited has announced that assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis will not be involved in any matches while the Football Association (FA) investigates an incident in which he appeared to elbow Liverpool defender Andy Robertson.
During the 2-2 draw match between Liverpool and Arsenal last evening, Hatzidakis appeared to elbow Robertson on the chin after the Scotland international approached him at the end of the first half.
Robertson joined by several teammates approached referee Paul Tierney about the incident, but Tierney showed Robertson the yellow card instead. Now, the matter is under investigation by the FA to find out the cause and gravity of the incident and if found guilty a punishment will be announced.
The refereeing body has released a statement that reads:
“PGMOL is aware of an incident involving assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis and Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson at half-time during the Liverpool v Arsenal fixture at Anfield. We will review the matter in full once the game has concluded.
“PGMOL will not be appointing Constantine Hatzidakis to fixtures in any of the competitions it serves whilst The FA investigates the incident involving the assistant referee and Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson at Anfield.”
During the investigation, Liverpool and Robertson will provide observations on the incident when requested.
It should be noted that Hatzidakis is an experienced match official and has been part of officiating teams for the Premier League, Champions League and Europa League fixtures for several years.
Writing about the incident in an article published by Daily Mail, former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg said Robertson initiated contact with Hatzidakis, and that could have prompted the match official to react.
“Players can push us officials to the limit. They can provoke [you] to the point where you are probably tempted to give them something in return. But under no circumstances can we respond.
“Certainly not physically. Hatzidakis did and there will now be a clamour for him to be banned.” Clattenburg said before adding that he doesn’t think Hatzidakis meant to catch Robertson with his elbow.
