MARK CLATTENBURG: Hatzidakis was provoked by Andy Robertson

MARK CLATTENBURG: Linesman Constantine Hatzidakis was provoked by Andy Robertson before he swung an arm at the Liverpool defender… but officials must NEVER react. This is a real headache for Howard Webb

  • Footage shows Andy Robertson made first contact with Constantine Hatzidakis   
  • Players came push officials to the limit – but we must never react to them  
  • Referees chief Howard Webb now has a huge decision to make over Hatzidakis 

Not the easiest weekend for Howard Webb. As if the VAR controversies weren’t bad enough, he now gets to spend his Monday dealing with an accusation of an assistant elbowing a player at Anfield.

I have studied the footage that the PGMOL will look at and all the angles suggest Andrew Robertson initiated contact with Constantine Hatzidakis before the official reacted by swinging his arm.

In doing so, Hatzidakis’s elbow appeared to catch Robertson on the chin. Webb will now speak to Hatzidakis to get his side of the story. He should ask Robertson what happened, too.

Players can push us officials to the limit. 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, given Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic is set to miss eight matches for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh last month.

I do not think Hatzidakis meant to catch Robertson with his elbow. But it will be interesting to see how Webb handles this one. It’s an unwanted headache for the PGMOL’s new chief.

Footage of Constantine Hatzidakis swinging an arm at Andy Robertson suggests the official was provoked 

Hatzidakis knows referees should never react – and he could face trouble with the PGMOL 

What the other pundits said…

ROY KEANE

‘Does he grab the linesman first? I’m not sure, but Robertson is then complaining. What’s he complaining for? What’s he going up to him for? He should be more worried about his defending. Do you know what he is, that Robertson? 

‘I’ve watched him a number of times, he is a big baby. That’s what that guy is. Just concentrate on the game and get on with your defending. He does grab the linesman first.’

CHRIS SUTTON

‘That clash between Andy Robertson and the assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis at half-time was unprecedented. The bottom line is a match official cannot react like that and the PGMOL need to take a strong stance. 

‘Hatzidakis needs a ban, no ifs, ands, or buts. A big debating point was Aleksandar Mitrovic and the eight-game ban and the FA want him banned for more, but you can’t have assistants throwing elbows. What should the punishment be?’

GARY NEVILLE

‘I have never seen an official raise an elbow towards a player. I think he will be in a lot of trouble when the game ends.’

MICAH RICHARDS

‘I have never seen anything like that in my life.’

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