Constantine Hatzidakis will make a return to work in the Championship after being cleared by the FA for elbowing Liverpool defender Andy Robertson.
The assistant referee caught Robertson with his arm during a confrontation at half-time of Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on April 9. Hatzidakis was initially suspended from officiating duties while the FA investigated the incident before being cleared of any wrongdoing.
He did not work over the weekend due to the furore and the refereeing body the PGMOL have decided to take a cautious approach over reintroducing him.
Hatzidakis will instead return to work as an assistant referee for the Championship game between Preston and Blackburn on Saturday, before officiating in the Premier League again next Tuesday when he will work as the assistant VAR for Leeds’ match against Leicester.
The decision has likely been made to ease him back into work as an assistant referee away from the spotlight, before he assists head VAR Stuart Attwell at Stockley Park.
Hatzidakis’ actions sparked a huge debate around the abuse of officials before he was cleared by the FA.
“I fully assisted The FA with their investigation and have discussed the matter directly with Andy Robertson during an open and positive conversation,” he said in a statement. “It was certainly not my intention to make any contact with Andy as I pulled my arm away from him and for that I have apologised. I look forward to returning to officiating matches.”
The FA statement read: “We have thoroughly reviewed all of the evidence in relation to the recent incident at Anfield involving the Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson and match official Constantine Hatzidakis, and we will be taking no further action.
“Our comprehensive process involved reviewing detailed statements from Liverpool and the PGMOL, as well as multiple angles of video footage, in relation to both the incident and its surrounding circumstances.”
Robertson returned to action when Liverpool travelled to Elland Road in the Premier League on Monday night. He helped Jurgen Klopp’s side pick up a much-needed win in a 6-1 thrashing of Leeds.
The Scotland international has been heavily criticised for his reaction in the incident with Hatzidakis. Former Tottenham striker Garth Crooks wrote for BBC Sport : “The way Robertson then turned to his team-mates in astonishment to complain that he had just been 'deliberately' elbowed was bordering on pathetic. The international defender should have known better.
“Had he tried that stunt in his native Scotland, in a match of no significance with an ordinary member of the public running the line, he would almost certainly have been levelled. Robertson knew exactly what he was doing and who he was doing it to. This was bullying of the worst kind and it has to stop.”
