Liverpool and Arsenal met in the top match of the Premier League. In addition to goals and top positions, the biggest headlines were stolen by the incident between the assistant referee and Liverpool defender Andy Robertson.
Yesterday, Liverpool and league leader Arsenal tied the scores in the top match of the English football league with a 2-2 draw. After the match, the incident that happened after the first half, in which the assistant referee, made headlines Constantine Hatzidakis the Liverpool full-back would shout with his elbow Andy Robertson.
Robertson ran to Hatzidakis to say something to him. However, the assistant didn’t stay to listen, but elbowed the defender around the neck and continued on his way. The fullback was understandably upset by the situation.
Watch the video of the situation from Viaplay’s tweet.
American site The Athletic reported (you are moving to another service)that the Chief Justice Paul Tierney could have shelved Hatzidakis. The international body that decides on the rules of football (IFAB) has defined in its rules that a referee can relieve another referee from his duties due to inappropriate behavior.
Tierney was a few tens of meters away from the incident, so it is not certain whether he saw the situation. After the situation, Liverpool players surround Tierney to highlight the situation. Robertson was eventually warned about the situation.
Hatzidakis called the end of the match as an assistant referee.
The FA has told The Athletic that it is investigating the situation together with PGMOL, the body representing English football referees. The British website BBC says (you will switch to another service)that Hatzidakis has been sidelined pending an investigation.
– I have never seen a referee raise his elbow towards a player. I think he will be in trouble after the game, the expert of the British channel Sky Sports Gary Neville äímisteli (you switch to another service).
Another player legend Roy Keane also wondered about Robertson’s actions in the situation. He pointed out that Robertson should focus more on his defensive game instead of complaining.
– I’ve never seen anything like it, but Robertson… Will he grab the assist first, Keane thought about the situation on Sky Sports.
Former top judge Mark Clattenburg wrote about the situation For the Daily Mail (you will switch to another service). He pointed out how the players may provoke the referees, but the referees cannot join in the provocation.
– Under no circumstances can we respond, especially not physically.
The Fulham striker brings additional spice to the investigation of the situation Aleksandar Mitrovic case. Mitrovic nudged the referee Chris Kavanagh in the FA Cup match between Fulham and Manchester United in March and received an eight-match ban.