Controversial elbow incident involving assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis has implications for Arsenal and raises questions on refereeing integrity.
The recent 2-2 draw between Arsenal and Liverpool was marred by a controversial incident involving assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis, who appeared to elbow Liverpool’s Andy Robertson.
As a result, Hatzidakis will not officiate any matches until the investigation into the matter is completed.
This incident has left fans wondering about its implications for future games and the integrity of refereeing in football which has taken a battering this season. Multiple apologies have been dished out by the governing body, none of which count on the league table.
Investigation into elbow incident
The confrontation took place during half-time, when Robertson approached Hatzidakis and accused the official of elbowing him in the throat after the Liverpool man had pulled at the assistant ref’s arm.
Referee Paul Tierney issued a yellow card to the Liverpool defender, while Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson discussed the matter with the officials.
The PGMOL and the Football Association have both launched investigations into the incident, leaving Hatzidakis sidelined until the inquiries are concluded.
PGMOL released a statement saying, “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.”
While the outcome of these investigations is yet to be determined, the suspension of an assistant referee is a rare occurrence that has caught the attention of the football community.
Implications for Arsenal and refereeing standards
This was the 6th Arsenal game Hatzidakis had been involved in this season and he has been a regular feature over recent years.
The suspension of an official highlights clearly that the actions of referees and their assistants can significantly influence the outcome of a match, something PGMOL have seemed to care little about throughout its lifespan.
If Hatzidakis is found guilty of elbowing Robertson, it may lead to increased scrutiny of refereeing decisions with the hope that officials will finally be held accountable for messing up in spectacular ways.