Sunday, 29 December 2024
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Premier League

Who is the official who ‘elbowed’ Andy Robertson?

Constantine Hatzidakis

When asked what his advice would be for any aspiring officials, Constantine Hatzidakis offered a sound nugget of wisdom.

“I definitely recommend joining a support network for challenging times,” the Premier League assistant referee warned, “…because they’re always going to be them in the referee world.”

Hatzidakis is undoubtedly enduring the most challenging time of his career after getting involved in a scuffle with Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson during a thrilling 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday.

After the whistle had blown for half-time, the 38-year-old official appeared to raise his elbow in the direction of Robertson’s chin. An investigation led by PGMOL is ongoing and Hatzidakis has been stood down in the meantime.

This out-of-character escapade has propelled Hatzidakis from the fringes of the pitch – only sporadically and briefly thrust into the spotlight when a tight offside call is made – firmly into the public consciousness.

Here’s everything you need to know about the figure at the heart of a scandalous incident.

Constantine Hatzidakis

Constantine Hatzidakis is a fitness fanatic / Shaun Botterill/GettyImages

Growing up in the southeast, Hatzidakis was a talented athlete across a number of disciplines. As well as swimming to a high level, he played professional rugby for Harlequins. As a winger with bright pink boots, Hatzidakis admitted to the GB Active podcast in 2018: “I was very arrogant when I played.”

The assistant referee describes himself as a ‘professional athlete’. A big advocate of yoga, Hatzidakis conceded: “I am undoubtedly obsessed with training.”

This dedication to his fitness and physique is integral to his ability to run the line, or so he claims. “If you don’t look right,” Hatzidakis said, “…your credibility is questioned straight away. If you look physically fit as a match official, as a referee or assistant referee, you’re automatically winning that game of persuading someone that decision is correct.”

Jose Holebas, Constantine Hatzidakis

Constantine Hatzidakis (left) in dialogue with Watford’s Jose Holebas during the 2019 FA Cup final / Richard Heathcote/GettyImages

They say that necessity is the mother of invention and Hatzidakis was first drawn into the role of officiating out of need rather than desire. “I became a qualified referee because my little brother’s football team needed somebody to referee their matches.” Simple as that.

Hatzidakis made his debut in the Football League in 2012 and has been a Premier League official for the last nine years….

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