Andy Robertson: Assistant referee 'elbow' on Liverpool defender to be investigated
- Published
Andy Robertson (second from left) was shown a yellow card for dissent after his clash with assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis (far right)
Refereeing body PGMOL and the Football Association will investigate after assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis appeared to elbow Liverpool defender Andy Robertson.
Robertson approached Hatzidakis angrily at the end of the first half in Sunday's 2-2 Premier League draw with Arsenal and appeared to push him, with Hatzidakis raising an elbow which hit Robertson on the chin.
An angry Robertson and several team-mates approached referee Paul Tierney, who booked 29-year-old Robertson.
Former Blackburn striker Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live: "He has to be banned. He will have to sit out a number of games.
"You can't have assistants throwing elbows. I really don't know what he was thinking.
"I can't remember another incident like this. Where is the precedent for these things?"
Former Manchester midfielder Roy Keane described Scotland international Robertson as a "big baby".
"He grabs the linesman first," he said on Sky Sports. "Robertson should be more worried about his defending. Just get on with the game."
PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) said it would "review the matter in full".
'Hatzidakis' career could be in jeopardy'
Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett told 5 Live: "I was trying to find an excuse as to why he (Hatzidakis) did it and I came up with was he in fear?
"He shouldn't be because he's in a protected environment with plenty of security.
"But he reacted in a way that he shouldn't. He's clearly lost his composure."
Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is currently serving an eight-game ban for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh in their FA Cup defeat at Manchester United last month.
Hackett said the FA has a big decision to make over a potential punishment for Hatzidakis.
"If he is found guilty of this, his career is in jeopardy," said Hackett.
"The ban on Aleksandar Mitrovic wasn't long enough, so this has got to be the equivalent if he is found guilty.
"I would like the FA to convene a meeting this week and resolve the issue by the weekend."
Writing in the Daily Mail,, external former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg said Robertson "initiated contact" with Hatzidakis.
"Players can push us officials to the limit," he said. "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.
"I do not think Hatzidakis meant to catch Robertson with his elbow."
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