The Premier League referee’s body, the PGMOL, has issued a second statement after launching an investigation into the incident involving assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis and Liverpool defender Andy Robertson at Anfield on Sunday.
During the game with Arsenal, Hatzidakis appeared to elbow Robertson as the Scotland captain moved toward him after the half-time whistle had been blown by Paul Tierney.
The statement read: “PGMOL will not be appointing Constantine Hatzidakis to fixtures in any of the competition it serves whilst The FA investigates the incident involving the assistant referee and Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson at Anfield.”
During the game, the PGMOL had released an initial statement, which said: “PGMOL is aware of an incident involving assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis and Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson at half-time during the Liverpool v Arsenal fixture at Anfield. ‘We will review the matter in full once the game has concluded.”
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has suggested that Hatzidakis should be handed an eight-game ban, while Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports News that he would be ‘stunned’ if the assistant had lost his composure.
“I’ve just never heard or seen anything like it,” Gallagher said. “I can’t ever imagine me in a position where I would lose my own composure because when you referee you have to be in control.
“That’s the only way you can control the players is by controlling yourself so I’d be stunned if he was in that position — I’m not saying he didn’t — but I’d be stunned. That’s alien how we’re brought up as referees.”
Liverpool.com says: The incident is a bizarre one that has been seen before. The PGMOL will investigate and any comment around the incident at this stage can only be speculation as to what has happened.
Mikel Arteta makes an open confession about Anfield after ‘exceptional’ Liverpool comeback
Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal were caught up by a “special” Anfield atmosphere as Liverpool dealt a blow to their title challenge.
The Gunners had appeared on their way to a straightforward victory when goals inside the opening half-hour from Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus put them in control in their Premier League clash on Sunday afternoon.
However, Mohamed Salah pulled a goal back for the Reds three minutes before break with substitute Roberto Firmino snatching a deserved leveller for the home side in the 87th minute.
Salah also missed a penalty with Arsenal indebted to a string of vital saves from goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to repel a stirring Liverpool comeback.
and asked if he had experienced many similar atmospheres, arteta said: “no. when you look back at what they’ve done to big teams, including this season, they’re an exceptional team. they’re very difficult to dominate for 90 minutes.
“They have moments where they shift the game and they create the momentum that they want. When they raise the level to that there are few teams that can keep up. You have some examples in the results this year again. Merit to them as well because they’re a really good team.”
Arteta added: “It was a super intense match. We started the game exceptionally well and dominated, scored a goal and continued to play the way we wanted to and scored again, and that was the moment to kill the game.
“Just before half-time we conceded a goal and Liverpool generated some belief. This is a special atmosphere and stadium and the second half was a very different story.
“We started really well in the first few minutes (after half-time) but then didn’t continue to play. We gave every ball away especially in dangerous areas and allowed dangerous results and big transition moments against the best team in the world in doing that. When that happens its chaos, it’s a lot of balls in your box, it’s difficult to get out of those situations and then you have to suffer.
“We relied on big defensive moments and they missed a penalty, but we could have won the game where he had three huge chances on the counter but were not ruthless enough.
“You need your goalkeeper if you want to win and be in a title race. Look at how many times Alisson has done for Liverpool what he has to do.
“But we have to look at ourselves in the mirror and say we should have done better. Looking at both halves, it was a fair result. We have to take it.”
The atmosphere inside Anfield changed shortly before Salah’s goal after Granit Xhaka was involved in an altercation with Trent Alexander-Arnold, with both players being booked.
But Arteta said: “I don’t know if that’s the case as we had a big chance after that. If you go 3-0 then the crowd doesn’t get excited, but after that they scored and everything changed.”
Arsenal are now only six points clear of Manchester City at the Premier League summit having played a game more, and still have to visit the Etihad.