Constantine Hatzidakis will not be punished for alleged elbow on Andrew Robertson, the FA has confirmed
The assistant referee insisted that he did not mean to make contact with the full-back and has been cleared in the PGMOL investigation.
The Football Association (FA) has issued a statement confirming that Constantine Hatzidakis will not be punished for the incident involving Andrew Robertson in a recent game against Arsenal.
Footage appeared to show the assistant referee raise an elbow towards Robertson as players and officials were leaving the field at half time. However the FA have confirmed that they have completed their investigation into the incident and are satisfied that Hatzidakis should not be subject to any action.
“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,” the statement read.
“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.”
Assistant referee insists he did not intend to elbow Robertson
The incident, for which Robertson was given a yellow card, was captured by television cameras during the feisty Liverpool vs Arsenal fixture and instantly became a topic of discussion.
Hatzidakis was stood down pending the PGMOL investigation meaning that he has not been allocated a game for this weekend’s Premier League fixtures. However he now looks set to return to officiating duties and maintained that he did not mean to elbow the 29-year-old.
“I fully assisted The FA with their investigation and have discussed the matter directly with Andy Robertson during an open and positive conversation,” Hatzidakis said.
“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.”