The Football Association have confirmed that assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis will not face any further action after he was accused of elbowing Andy Robertson.
In the moments after the half-time whistle blew in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal, Robertson was shown a yellow card by referee Paul Tierney for dissent but his reaction was seemingly justified as images showed a linesman elbowing him as both sets of players were making their way off the field.
Did the assistant referee elbow Andy Robertson?!" ? pic.twitter.com/CZQbDDDX0I
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The game was in danger of reaching a boiling point before half-time. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Granit Xhaka were both cautioned for a coming together which galvanised the Anfield crowd.
In a statement issued before full-time, PGMOL said: “[We are] 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.”
Robertson’s plight, though, wasn’t met with any sympathy from Roy Keane.
“[Robertson] should be more worried about his defending,” he said during Sky Sports’ half-time analysis. “Do you know what he is that Robertson, I’ve watched him a number of times. He is a big baby. That’s what that guy is. Just get on with the game and concentrate on your defending.”
The full-back endured a difficult opening 45 minutes as the Gunners imposed themselves on Jurgen Klopp’s men. However, much like everyone in the home team, he enjoyed a better second-half performance but the incident at the break lingered on his mind.
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Sky Sports reporter Geoff Shreeves said: “Andy Robertson was absolutely apoplectic. Stunned, even.
“He said ‘the linesman has just elbowed me in the throat’ – Jordan Henderson was well aware of it and led the remonstrations with referee Paul Tierney and after that they got taken away. Extraordinary scenes.”
Jurgen Klopp told BBC Sport after the game: “I didn’t see it at all. I heard something happened. I heard the pictures speak for themselves but I don’t know more.”
A statement released after the game read: “PGMOL will not be appointing Constantine Hatzidakis to fixtures in any of the competition it serves whilst The FA investigates the incident involving the assistant referee and Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson at Anfield.”
However, the FA have now confirmed that Hatzidakis will not be punished further, after the incident was reviewed.
“We have thoroughly reviewed all of the evidence in relation to the recent incident at Anfield involving the Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson and match official Constantine Hatzidakis, and we will be taking no further action,” a statement read.
“Our comprehensive process involved reviewing detailed statements from Liverpool and the PGMOL, as well as multiple angles of video footage, in relation to both the incident and its surrounding circumstances.”
Hatzidakis also released a statement, offering an apology to Robertson and explaining what happened.
“I fully assisted The FA with their investigation and have discussed the matter directly with Andy Robertson during an open and positive conversation,” he said.
“It was certainly not my intention to make any contact with Andy as I pulled my arm away from him and for that I have apologised. I look forward to returning to officiating matches.”