MY ACCOUNT
Former referees’ chief Keith Hackett believes the career of linesman Constantine Hatzidakis could be in jeopardy following his apparent elbow on Liverpool defender Andy Robertson.
The extraordinary incident occurred just after the half-time whistle blew during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday.
Sky Sports cameras showed Hatzidakis seemingly throwing his arm up and making contact with Robertson after being approached by the Reds full-back, who gesticulated he had been hit by the official.
The irate defender, 29, was led away by team-mates. But while he received a yellow card in the aftermath, it is Hatzidakis who will come under further scrutiny with refs’ body the PGMOL set to review TV footage.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, ex-PGMOL head Hackett said: “Ultimately, if he is found guilty of this, his career is in jeopardy.
“I was trying to find an excuse as to why he 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 he shouldn’t have and here we are talking about a match official and not a decision, but an action by a match official. He’s clearly lost his composure.”
Former top-flight referee Mark Halsey put the spotlight on Robertson’s behaviour and believes a ban is the most likely punishment for Hatzidakis if he is proven to have committed an offence.
Writing in The Sun, Halsey drew a parallel with Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who was recently banned for eight matches for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh.
He said: “To me, it looks like Robertson goes to grab Hatzidakis, who brushes him off with his arm and catches him accidentally.
“I cannot think why an assistant would throw his arms into a player’s face.
“From one camera angle it does not look good. But you have to ask why has Robertson gone to approach the assistant referee?
“Match officials are the guardians of standards and must be accountable if found guilty for that type of behaviour towards a player.”
