Constantine Hatzidakis infamously raised his elbow towards Liverpool’s defender Andrew Robertson at half-time between Liverpool-Arsenal clash.
Those actions, according to the former referees’ chief Keith Hackett could warrant the assistant ref a substantial suspension and may ultimately cost him his job.
At the moment Hatzidakis has been taken off duty, while the FA is investigating the incident.
“I was trying to find an excuse as to why he did it and I came up with was he in fear? He shouldn’t be, because he’s in a protected environment with plenty of security.” said Hackett in front of the BBC Radio Five.”
“But he reacted in a way that he shouldn’t have reacted at the end of the day and here we are talking about a match official and not a decision, but an action by a match official – and he’s clearly lost his composure.”
Earlier today, former referee Mark Halsey stated that Hatzidakis should get the same treatment that Mitrovic got for shoving the referee-meaning an eight-game suspension.
Mark Clattenberg was a bit milder in his judgment saying the referee had been provoked. Nevertheless, the only case Hatzidakis can come up with is that he was merely shrugging Robertson. Anything else would result in a severe penalty and damaged reputation.