Liverpool Set for Reunion with Ref Who Elbowed Robertson
Liverpool will face assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis in the Carabao Cup semi-final after the elbow incident with Andy Robertson last year
Liverpool, Andy Robertson, Constantine Hatzidakis, Carabao Cup, Tottenham, Premier League
Liverpool: So, guess what? Liverpool is about to see assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis again. He’ll be on the field for the Carabao Cup semi-final against Spurs next Wednesday. It’s been a while since he was involved in a game with the Reds, especially after that elbow incident with Andy Robertson back in April 2023.
If the FA had thought Hatzidakis did it on purpose, he might have faced a serious ban. But after he apologized to Robertson, everything seemed to settle down. The Scot accepted his explanation, and since then, Hatzidakis has been kept away from Liverpool games. This upcoming match will be his first back with the Reds since Jurgen Klopp’s replacement.
Hatzidakis said he cooperated fully with the FA’s investigation and had a good chat with Robertson afterward. He insisted it wasn’t his intention to make contact and expressed his eagerness to get back to officiating.
Since then, he’s been a regular in the Premier League and has even officiated in the Women’s Super League. But this match against Spurs is a big deal, especially with Liverpool’s new boss, Arne Slot, looking to make a mark.
And let’s not forget the drama from last season with Spurs and VAR. It’s bound to be a high-stakes game. Hatzidakis will be hoping for a smooth night, but we’ll see if he runs into Robertson again. The 30-year-old’s form is under the spotlight, especially with Kostas Tsimikas back from injury.
In the end, it seems like the whole elbow incident was handled well. Robertson accepted Hatzidakis’ side of things, so Liverpool didn’t have much to complain about. Still, keeping him away from their games for a bit made sense. Now, with the time that’s passed, it’ll be interesting to see how things go in the Spurs match. Fingers crossed for no drama!