The official who stands accused of elbowing Andy Robertson at half-time of Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Arsenal will not be appointed to any fixtures while an investigation takes place.
Constantine Hatzidakis appeared to aim an elbow in the direction of Reds left-back Robertson as the defender tried to question him after the half-time whistle had sounded at Anfield on Easter Sunday. Mr Hatzidakis was caught on camera as he seemed to strike the head of Robertson as tensions spilled over into the interval after a fiery end to the first period of the game.
Robertson, who was cautioned for accosting the official by match referee Paul Tierney, was visibly furious with the treatment and was eventually moved away from the scene by his team-mates.
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) stated on Sunday afternoon that they were aware of the incident and that an investigation would be taking place to ascertain the full facts. And now the PGMOL have confirmed that the linesman won't be assigned any games going forward while the investigation into what happened with Robertson continues.
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A statement on Monday 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.”
Speaking after the game, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp said of the incident: "I didn’t see it. Now obviously I have time to watch it but I didn’t, just because I cannot give you the answers. I didn’t see it. I heard the pictures speak for themselves. I cannot say anymore. I didn’t see a bit.
"No (we haven’t heard from the officials). They don’t come to us, if we want to have something then we have to go to them. And I didn’t want anything."
Liverpool trailed thanks to goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus before Mohamed Salah halved the deficit going into the break. The moment when the official appeared to move the elbow towards Robertson was caught on camera by Sky Sports, with pitch-side reporter Geoff Shreeves branding the incident "extraordinary".
“Andy Robertson was absolutely apoplectic, stunned even," said Shreeves. “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.”
Substitute Roberto Firmino headed in a late leveller at Anfield for what was his 11th career goal against Arsenal as both teams were forced to settle for a draw.
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