Constantine Hatzidakis, the assistant referee who was briefly stood down from duty for an alleged elbow on Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson, will be back assisting VAR on Saturday.
Hatzidakis was accused of striking Robertson as he shrugged off being confronted by the Liverpool player as both were walking off the pitch at half-time during the Premier League clash between the Reds and Arsenal at Anfield earlier this month.
The FA investigated the matter, with Hatzidakis cleared of wrongdoing. He has also since apologised directly to Robertson for what happened.
But rather than be thrown straight into a Premier League game, where the spotlight is likely to be intense, Hatzidakis has been assigned to assist in the Championship clash between Preston and Blackburn, a crucial game in the context of the second tier play-offs.
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“We have thoroughly reviewed all of the evidence in relation to the recent incident at Anfield involving the Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson and match official Constantine Hatzidakis, and we will be taking no further action,” an FA spokesperson said in relation to the investigation.
“Our comprehensive process involved reviewing detailed statements from Liverpool and PGMOL, as well as multiple angles of video footage, in relation to both the incident and its surrounding circumstances.”
In a statement, Hatzidakis himself said, “I fully assisted The FA with their investigation and have discussed the matter directly with Andy Robertson during an open and positive conversation. It was certainly not my intention to make any contact with Andy as I pulled my arm away from him and for that I have apologised. I look forward to returning to officiating matches.”
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