The anger of the Liverpool players on the brink of half-time with the linesman and the referee of the match against Arsenal was justified. As can be seen in later images, the lineman, named Constantine Hatzidakis, nudged Andrew Robertson, an unjustifiable attack with which he responded to the protests of the net back. In the replays you can see how he sticks out his elbow and hits Robertson’s face, almost on impulse, and almost immediately after he realizes it and makes a subsequent gesture with his hand.
The linesman’s action raised the anger of the Liverpool footballers, who ended the first half angrily protesting to the referee Paul Tierney for what happened to his assistant. What’s more, Henderson, Liverpool captain, could be seen going directly to the linesman and even bringing his chest closer and pushing him slightly.
The images and the seriousness of the facts can cause Hatzidakis to receive an exemplary sanction. Something similar happened in France a few years ago when Tony Chapron kicked Diego Carlos, then Nantes footballer, and also expelled him. He was suspended by the FFF for six months and after that he retired and left arbitration forever.
immediate reactions
Reactions to Robertson’s elbow from the linesman did not wait. The first to come out publicly to denounce it was Carragher, the former defender of the network team and one of the most authoritative voices in the Liverpool environment due to his position as a television analyst. “Lines judge’s nudge on Robertson!”, he netted himself.
