An assistant referee at Sunday’s match between Liverpool and Arsenal has been sidelined indefinitely while the Football Association (FA) carries out an investigation into an incident involving defender Andy Robertson, who was apparently elbowed in the face by the referee.
Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) announced on Monday that assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis would not be assigned to any game while the FA carries out its investigation into the incident which took place just as the half-time whistle was blown in the 2-2 draw. 2 of Sunday.
Andy Robertson of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on April 9, 2023 in Liverpool, England. (Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
«PGMOL will not appoint Constantine Hatzidakis for matches in any of the competitions it serves while the FA investigates the incident involving the assistant referee and Andrew Robertson, Liverpool defender at Anfield,» the statement said.
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The 29-year-old Scotsman approached Hatzidakis after the half-time whistle was blown, but cameras caught the referee raising his arm and hitting Robertson somewhere near the jaw with his elbow.
Andrew Robertson of Liverpool appeals to assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield, Liverpool, Britain on Sunday April 9, 2023. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)
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Robertson, who made a gesture that he had been hit by the referee, was eventually carried away by his teammates and received a yellow card.
«I know it happened, but I didn’t see it,» Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said on Sunday. «If it happened, the pictures will speak for themselves.»
Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson appeals to assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Image date: Sunday April 9, 2023. (Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
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Despite the incident, Liverpool managed to come back from 2–0 down to draw 2–2, with Roberto Firmino scoring the equalizer in the 87th minute.
Associated Press contributed to this report.