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The Premier League’s refereeing body, PGMOL, has suspended assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis after an incident during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Anfield involving Reds’ defender Andy Robertson.
Robertson suffers elbow to the throat against Arsenal
The incident occurred at the sound of the half-time whistle during the game when Robertson approached the linesman, asking for an explanation for an earlier decision, but suffered an elbow to the throat from Hatzidakis.
Robertson went after the linesman on duty to ask him why a decision a few minutes earlier had gone the way of Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus even though the Brazilian had only gone down after he had lost the ball and was no longer being challenged.
The decision drew Robertson’s ire, and he waited for a chance at half-time to ask why Hatzidakis made the call.
Hatzidakis to be suspended from Premier League games until investigations are complete
There are doubts about whether Hatzidakis intentionally elbowed Robertson, or whether he was trying to free himself from the defender's grasp after images appeared to show the Liverpool man with his arm over that of the referee.
While investigations are ongoing into the matter, PGMOL has asked Hatzidakis to step down from refereeing duties until the investigation is complete, at which time appropriate action will be taken if need be.
The suspension is indefinite and expected to last until the body of referees decides if there was foul play or malice involved in Hatzidakis’ altercation with Robertson or if indeed it was all an accident.
Meanwhile, in other Liverpool news
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has blamed Arsenal’s collapse against the Reds on midfielder Granit Xhaka, accusing the Swiss Gunner of riling up the Anfield crowd due to an altercation with Liverpool’s Trent Alexander Arnold.
Carragher believes that the skirmish between the two players reignited the Anfield crowd who in turn energised a Liverpool comeback.
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