Liverpool will offer their full co-operation to both the FA and referee body, the PGMOL, as they conduct enquiries into controversial assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis.
And the Anfield club will watch with interest to see if any action is taken against the official, following his apparent elbow into the face of Reds defender Andy Robertson, which produced such shocking images during the game against Arsenal on Sunday.
There has been no official complaint from Robertson or anyone associated with the club, but there was some real surprise at the incident. The Scotland captain did briefly pull the official by the arm to speak to him, and was booked for that action, but the contact from the elbow wasn’t a result of that situation.
The FA have announced a full investigation into the incident, with the PGMOL issuing a statement suggesting they "will not be appointing Constantine Hatzidakis to fixtures in any competition" during the FA investigation.
That follows on from a statement on Sunday evening, where the refs body confirmed they would launch their own investigation as the football world was shocked by the scenes at Anfield.
Robertson was incensed by the incident, and had to be pulled away from the officials, while Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson strongly protested at what happened, pointing out to referee Paul Tierney that his assistant elbowed the Scotland captain in the throat.
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Eye-witnesses on the touchline described chaotic scenes, with one describing Robertson as being "absolutely stunned" at what happened.
There is some bad blood between Tierney and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, following a game at Tottenham in December 2021 where Robertson was sent off, but Harry Kane, controversially, wasn’t dismissed for an even worse foul.
Klopp was picked up on mics saying to the official, "I have no problems with any referees. Only you." Interestingly, Hatzidakis was the senior assistant referee for that game, and has often worked with Tierney.
Klopp echoed those words after the thrilling contest with Arsenal, when asked about the performance of the officials, suggesting, "I think there are some things we can talk about…but [let us just say] we had our issues with some referees."
The FA have been urged to act strongly, given that the match officials are those who are tasked with upholding the laws and the spirit of the game. Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett admitted he was stunned by the incident.
He told 5 Live: "I was trying to find an excuse as to why he did it and all I came up with was he in fear? He shouldn't be because he's in a protected environment with plenty of security. He reacted in a way that he shouldn't. He's clearly lost his composure."
