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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Timothy Abraham

Liverpool's Andy Robertson and assistant ref Constantine Hatzidakis questions asked

Andy Robertson was involved in one of the most controversial moments of the Premier League season on Sunday when he was seemingly elbowed by an assistant referee - and now we want your thoughts on the incident and what should happen next.

The flashpoint occurred as the players were leaving the field at the start of the half-time interval during Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday.

Scotland international Robertson spoke to the assistant referee, Constantine Hatzidakis, before it appeared that the 38-year-old official raised his arm and elbowed the Reds full-back in the face. Robertson and his teammates were involved in a subsequent exchange with referee Paul Tierney and he proceeded to book the Liverpool left-back.

It was subsequently announced by the PGMOL that Hatzidakis will not be on the touchline until further notice as they undertake an investigation into the matter.

VOTE: Was Robertson entirely innocent? How should Hatzidakis be punished? Take our poll answer that and four questions about the incident.

Inevitably, former referees have jumped to the defence of Hatzidakis for his role in the incident, including ex-Premier League officials Mark Clattenburg and Peter Walton.

Clattenburg claimed in the Daily Mail that "all the angles suggest Robertson initiated contact with Constantine Hatzidakis before the official reacted by swinging his arm".

Walton said: "The available replays make the incident look worse than it probably was. Robertson went over to the assistant, and Hatzidakis then motions in the Liverpool left-back's direction. It is also worth emphasising that Robertson instigated the dispute by unnecessarily approaching Hatzidakis, as the confronting of referees and their assistants continues."

Liverpool legend John Aldridge took the opposite view and predicted the game's governing bodies will come down on Hatzidakis strongly.

"I think he’s done. They’ve got to make an example of him. The people at the FA are like proper school teachers with discipline. He’s supposed to be a disciplinarian. It’s unbelievable to be quite honest," Aldridge wrote in his ECHO column.

"I’ve only seen pictures of the incident between Andy Robertson and the assistant referee, I haven’t seen it up close. But to see a linesman, not a player but a linesman, actually do that, it’s unbelievable. It’s unbelievable.

"And the fact that he thought he could get away with it! That is just ludicrous. Look, I’ve done it, I’ve reacted, but for an official to do it is madness. Absolute madness. So they’ve got to make an example of him and I’m sure his punishment is going to be very, very heavy."

YOUR SAY: Do you have more to say on the incident involving Robertson? Let us know in the comments section below

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