Chaos erupted at the end of the first half when assistant referee Hatzidakis appeared to elbow Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson. The shocking moment sparked fury from Robertson’s teammates and earned Hatzidakis a booking from referee Paul Tierney.
PGMOL Bans Hatzidakis Amid FA Probe
The refereeing body PGMOL has swiftly acted, ruling that Hatzidakis will sit out all fixtures while the FA investigates the incident. This rare move shows how seriously the authorities are taking the alleged misconduct.
Ex-Ref Keith Hackett: Hatzidakis’ Career on the Line
Former Premier League ref Keith Hackett didn’t mince his words. He said Hatzidakis “clearly lost his composure” and warned, “his career is in jeopardy” if found guilty. Hackett pointed to Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic’s recent eight-game ban after pushing a ref as a precedent. “If found guilty, Hatzidakis should face a similarly harsh punishment,” he said.
Mixed Reactions from Football Legends
Ex-Blackburn striker Chris Sutton slammed any “assistants throwing elbows” as intolerable in football. But former Manchester United star Roy Keane took a different stance, labeling Robertson a “big baby” and accusing him of starting the confrontation.
Call for Calm: Mark Clattenburg Weighs In
Writing in the Daily Mail, ex-Premier League ref Mark Clattenburg urged officials to keep their cool. “Under no circumstances can we respond, certainly not physically,” he said. Clattenburg suggested Hatzidakis might not have meant to elbow Robertson but stressed this incident highlights the urgent need for referees and assistants to stay professional under pressure.
