- Constantine Hatzidakis appeared to elbow the left back in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal
- He returned to refereeing shortly after but has only been VAR for the Reds' matches.
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Constantine Hatzidakis, who appeared to elbow Andy Robertson in the jaw in April 2023, made his first appearance for Liverpool since the controversial incident.
The referee was suspended while bosses investigated his encounter with the Reds defender.
However, he The Football Association cleared him of any wrongdoing after television footage emerged showing it. apparently he elbowed the player at half-time of the 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Anfield.
Hatzidakis was understood to have apologized to Robertson on a Zoom call, the Scotland captain accepted his explanation for what happened and the FA decided to take no further action.
Manchester United's clash with Aston Villa two weeks later marked Hatzidakis' return to the field for a Premier League match. Shortly before he had refereed a championship match between Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers.
In the ensuing 21 months, the Englishman's appearances for Liverpool were limited to three games in the VAR seat, but he will now face Robertson once again in his first Reds game on the pitch since the incident.
Constantine Hatzidakis will play his first game for Liverpool since appearing to elbow Andy Robertson in April 2023.
Hatzidakis was suspended pending an investigation into his encounter with Robertson (pictured)
He will run the line for Liverpool's Carabao Cup semi-final against struggling Tottenham.
Arne Slot's men will face Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on January 8 and Hatzidakis will race that night.
James Mainwaring will join the referee as assistant referee, while Stuart Attwell will be the referee for the cup tie. Tim Robinson will be the fourth official.
Robertson claimed Hatzidakis elbowed him in the face after he approached the referee as he walked away during Liverpool's Premier League match against Arsenal at Anfield earlier this month.
The collision was caught on camera: Robertson and his teammates angrily protested to the match referee about the incident. However, the FA carried out its own investigation and concluded that no further action was necessary.
“We have thoroughly reviewed all the evidence in relation to the recent incident at Anfield involving the Liverpool defender and the match referee and will take no further action,” read a statement from the FA.
“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 the circumstances surrounding it.”
Meanwhile, Hatzidakis issued a statement following his conversation with Robertson, expressing his excitement at the prospect of returning to action, as well as highlighting that it was not his 'intention' to make contact with the player.
“I have discussed the matter directly with Andy Robertson during an open and positive conversation,” his statement read.
Hatzidakis was originally retired from service, but returned to the court later that month.
Liverpool protested to referee Paul Tierney after the alleged incident with the linesman
“I didn't mean to make any contact with Andy when I moved my arm away from him and for that I apologized.”
Hatzidakis' return is unlikely to faze Slot, who has unflappably taken Liverpool to a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand.
The Reds also find themselves top of the Champions League and in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, having lost just one game all season.
Slot arrived at Anfield in the summer and was not on the bench during the incident in April 2023. Jurgen Klopp was the Reds boss that day, but announced his departure nine months later.