Simon Jordan has expressed his belief that both Constantine Hatzidakis and Andy Robertson should be punished for their altercation during Liverpool’s match against Arsenal. Hatzidakis, an assistant referee, was criticised after appearing to elbow Robertson during the game, which led to a furious reaction from the Liverpool star’s teammates. A review of the incident is due to take place, with a statement from the PGMOL saying that they are aware of the situation and will review it fully once the game has concluded.
Jordan, speaking on talkSPORT, believes that Hatzidakis should be punished for his role in the clash, while Robertson should also be held accountable for inciting the reaction. Jordan believes that officials should be beyond reproach and that players should not be allowed to surround referees or question their decisions. He also stated that he does not believe that the incident warrants an eight-game ban, but that Hatzidakis needs to face consequences for his error of judgement.
Jordan also agreed with Stuart Pearce’s suggestion that Robertson should face consequences for his actions. He believes that Robertson has been displaying too much arrogance lately and that he needs to be held accountable for his behaviour.
The incident has sparked a debate about the behaviour of players towards officials and the need for stricter punishments for those who engage in such behaviour. Many believe that players need to show more respect towards referees and that officials need to be given more protection from aggressive behaviour. The incident is likely to lead to further discussions about how best to deal with such incidents in the future.