Liverpool icon Graeme Souness has claimed that Andrew Robertson was at fault for the controversial incident between him and linesman Constantine Hatzidakis against Arsenal.
The Scottish defender was at the heart of a bizarre situation during the half-time break of his side’s draw with the current Premier League leaders at Anfield. Hatzidakis appeared to elbow the Liverpool left-back, leaving him shocked.
Investigations were launched by both the FA and the PGMOL, with the official being temporarily taken off-duty from matches as the incident was looked at closely. In the end, it was decided that there would be no further punishment.
An official 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 PGMOL, as well as multiple angles of video footage, in relation to both the incident and its surrounding circumstances.”
Despite a line seemingly being drawn under the incident, former Liverpool star Souness has claimed that Robertson needed to take responsibility for his role. Writing in a Mail Online column, he said: “There had been an earlier conversation between him and the official, Constantine Hatzidakis, and you didn’t need to be a rocket scientist — or a lip reader — to work out what he was saying when he approached him again, as the teams left the pitch at half-time.
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“Let’s just say that Robbo was not enquiring after the health of that official’s family. It was language for adults only.
“Robbo is among the most guilty when it comes to Premier League players letting the officials have it. And to compound things, he then placed an arm on Hatzidakis.
“I don’t care how light that contact might have been, you never touch an official in a moment of criticism or aggression. Not in my day. Not now. And that’s why I have sympathy with the linesman in this case. I don’t see him throwing out an elbow.”
Following the decision to clear him of any wrongdoing, Hatzidakis revealed that he had apologised directly to Robertson.
In a brief statement released shortly after the PGMOL decision, he said: “I have discussed the matter directly with Andy Robertson during an open & positive conversation.
"It was not my intention to make any contact with Andy as I pulled my arm away from him and for that I have apologised."
There had previously been calls for Hatzidakis to face a lengthy ban, similar to the one imposed on Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic. He was suspended for eight matches for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh last month.
