Two ex-PL refs claim Hatzidakis elbow on Liverpool star Robertson was ‘accidental’ but Sutton calls for ban

Joe Williams
Liverpool defender Andy Robertson shouts at linseman Constantine Hatzidakis

Former Premier League referees Mark Clattenburg and Mark Halsey think Constantine Hatzidakis’ elbow on Liverpool defender Andy Robertson was an accident.

Refereeing body PGMOL is set to investigate after Robertson appeared to be elbowed by linesman Hatzidakis in the Reds’ match against Arsenal at Anfield.

PGMOL intends to “review” the extraordinary incident which happened after the half-time whistle was blown, with Robertson remonstrating with and possibly coming into contact with the assistant referee.

Sky Sports cameras zooming in on the confrontation showed Hatzidakis then seemingly throwing up his arm and making contact with Robertson, who gesticulated that he had been hit by the official.

An irate Robertson was led away by Liverpool team-mates including Mohamed Salah but while he received a yellow card in the aftermath, it is the action of Hatzidakis that is likely to come under further scrutiny.

Halsey thinks Hatzidakis should get a lengthy ban if proven that he deliberately elbowed the Liverpool defender but the former Premier League referee doesn’t think he meant to elbow him.

He told The Sun: “I have heard people say this is the end of the linesman’s career, but, just like Aleksandar Mitrovic, it is his full-time job.

“However, if he is proven guilty and did intentionally use his elbow then he will face the same consequences as the Fulham frontman.

“Match officials are the guardians of standards and must be accountable if found guilty for that type of behaviour towards a player.”

Halsey added: “To me, it looks like Robertson goes to grab Hatzidakis, who brushes him off with his arm and catches him accidentally.

“I cannot think why an assistant would throw his arms into a player’s face. Sure, from one camera angle it does not look good.”

And Halsey’s former colleague Clattenburg gave his view to the Daily Mail, he said: “Not the easiest weekend for Howard Webb. As if the VAR controversies weren’t bad enough, he now gets to spend his Monday dealing with an accusation of an assistant elbowing a player at Anfield.

“I have studied the footage that the PGMOL will look at and all the angles suggest Andrew Robertson initiated contact with Constantine Hatzidakis before the official reacted by swinging his arm.

“In doing so, Hatzidakis’s elbow appeared to catch Robertson on the chin. Webb will now speak to Hatzidakis to get his side of the story. He should ask Robertson what happened, too.

“Players can push us officials to the limit. They can provoke to the point where you are probably tempted to give them something in return. But under no circumstances can we can respond. Certainly not physically.

“Hatzidakis did and there will now be a clamour for him to be banned, given Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic is set to miss eight matches for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh last month.

“I do not think Hatzidakis meant to catch Robertson with his elbow. But it will be interesting to see how Webb handles this one. It’s an unwanted headache for the PGMOL’s new chief.”

But former Premier League striker Chris Sutton has seen enough and wants Hatzidakis banned for the incident with Liverpool defender Robertson.

Sutton said: “That clash between Andy Robertson and the assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis at half-time was unprecedented. The bottom line is a match official cannot react like that and the PGMOL need to take a strong stance.

“Hatzidakis needs a ban, no ifs, ands, or buts.

“A big debating point was Aleksandar Mitrovic and the eight-game ban and the FA want him banned for more, but you can’t have assistants throwing elbows. What should the punishment be?”

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