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Tag: Andrew Robertson

  • Constantine to go unpunished for elbowing Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson

    Constantine to go unpunished for elbowing Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson

    The Football Association (FA) has confirmed that Constantine Hatzidakis won’t be punished for seeming to elbow Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson.

    After halftime of Sunday’s 2-2 draw between Liverpool and Premier League leaders Arsenal, Robertson approached assistant referee Hatzidakis, who then appeared to throw his arm up with an elbow aimed in Robertson’s direction.

    Hatzidakis was told he wouldn’t be assigned to any games until the FA’s inquiry into the incident was finished.

    On Thursday, it was confirmed that the official would not face any further action, with a statement reading: “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.

    “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.”

    Hatzidakis also released a statement via the PGMOL, explaining that he had apologised to Robertson wanted to draw a line under the incident.

    “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,” Hatzidakis 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.”

  • Prince Andrew’s lawyers deny lack of cooperation in Epstein case

    Britain’s Prince Andrew on Monday hit back at claims he had failed to cooperate with US authorities investigating the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

    US lawyers have claimed that Queen Elizabeth II’s second son refused to help in the case, which centres around lurid sex trafficking claims against the multi-millionaire financier.

    The 60-year-old senior royal publicly defended his friendship with Epstein in a BBC television interview last year, prompting outrage from his victims, and leading him to quit frontline royal duties.

    But Andrew’s lawyers, Blackfords, said in a statement that claims he had stonewalled investigators were untrue and accused the US Department of Justice (DoJ) of chasing headlines.

    “The Duke of York has on at least three occasions this year offered his assistance as a witness to the DoJ,” the statement said.

    “Unfortunately, the DoJ has reacted to the first two offers by breaching their own confidentiality rules and claiming that the Duke has offered zero co-operation.

    “In doing so, they are perhaps seeking publicity rather than accepting the assistance proffered.”

    Andrew, a former Royal Navy helicopter pilot who as a younger man had a reputation as a playboy prince, is accused of having sexual relations with one woman when she was 17 – an allegation he has vehemently denied.

    The woman, Virginia Giuffre, alleges she was trafficked under-age to have sex with friends of Epstein, who was 66 when he killed himself in a New York jail in August last year.

    The hedge fund manager, who befriended countless celebrities over the years, including US President Donald Trump, was awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.

    ‘Disappointing’

    Andrew’s lawyers said they had upheld their commitment to confidentiality but said they were forced to go public “in view of misleading media briefings” from the United States.

    US investigators had been looking into Epstein’s affairs for more than 16 years but only requested the prince’s help on January 2 this year, they said.

    “Importantly, the DoJ advised us that the Duke is not and has never been a ‘target’ of their criminal investigations into Epstein and that they sought his confidential, voluntary cooperation.

    “In the course of these discussions, we asked the DoJ to confirm that our co-operation and any interview arrangements would remain confidential, in accordance with the ordinary rules that apply to voluntary co-operation with the DoJ,” the statement said.

    “We were given an unequivocal assurance that our discussions and the interview process would remain confidential.”

    The lawyers pointed to two claims from New York attorney Geoffrey Berman on January 27 and March 9 that the duke was refusing to cooperate, leading to “misleading” media reports.

    “These statements were inaccurate, and they should not have been made,” Andrew’s lawyers added, accusing the DoJ of treating their client “by a lower standard” than anyone else.

    The Sun newspaper on Monday reported that the DoJ had submitted a mutual legal assistance request to Britain’s interior ministry to force the prince to give a statement.

    His lawyers said that would be “disappointing” given his willingness to do provide a written statement voluntarily.

    Source: france24.com

  • Henderson is player of the year – Robertson

    Andy Robertson believes his Liverpool team-mate Jordan Henderson deserves to be crowned Premier League player of the year.

    The pair have been key to a Liverpool side 22 points clear at the top of the Premier League, with the club – who face Norwich on Saturday, live on Sky Sports – on course to win their first top-division championship since 1990.

    Left-back Robertson feels Henderson, who is the club captain at Anfield, has provided vital leadership and key contributions during difficult matches for Jurgen Klopp’s runaway league leaders.

    The Scotsman also thinks his skipper is finally starting to get the appreciation he feels his skills have long deserved from the wider footballing public.

    “For me, I think he’s the leading candidate [for player of the year],” Robertson told Sky Sports News. “At times this season when we’ve struggled Hendo has been the one that has driven us forward.

    “He’s the one who has made sure we don’t get slack, or he has chipped in with some really important goals or really important assists.

    “Maybe his performances at the start of the season went a little bit under the radar, but as the season has progressed he’s not really had a bad game.

    “You really appreciate him when you train with him every day and in this country he’s not been appreciated enough in his character.

    “He’s getting the recognition he deserves because he is a fantastic player, a fantastic role model and a fantastic captain. He’s driven us to three points at times this season when we’ve struggled.”

    Robertson also spoke about the support he gives to the Fans Supporting Foodbanks charity, something he wishes he did not have to do.

    Source: skysports.com

  • Robertson: No one wants to play Liverpool

    Defender Andrew Robertson believes Liverpool’s reputation in the Champions League is so fearsome that no one will want to face them in the knockout stages.

    Jurgen Klopp’s side have reached a European final in three of the four seasons he has been at the club, starting with the Europa League in 2016 and then back-to-back appearances in the elite competition culminating with a sixth European Cup in June.

    Having booked a last-16 spot as group winners after a 2-0 win over RB Salzburg in Austria, the club head into the new year eyeing a third successive Champions League final.

    Robertson believes none of their opponents will want to be pitted against them in Monday’s draw in Nyon.

    Read:PL: Liverpool pile pressure on Silva after big derby win

    “We respect every opponent we play but we know the way we have done things in the last two years and nobody wants to play against us and that is clear – but it is up to us to keep proving that,” said the Scotland captain.

    “We cannot rely on that and we need to keep proving why people don’t want to play against us but, so far, we have done that.

    “We will wait for the draw and see who we get in the last 16. We know it will be tough regardless but we look forward to the challenge as we want to go far in this tournament again.”

    Liverpool have made a habit of making life tough on themselves in the group stage, having taken qualification to the final game for the last three years, but coming alive in the knockout phase.

    Read:CL: Liverpool beat Salzburg to progress as group winners

    It is that form which makes them such unenviable opposition, having beaten the likes of Bayern Munich, Roma, Manchester City and – most famously Barcelona in May over the last two seasons.

    “That is the atmosphere we have created in the last two years, a team which has been to the final twice and has obviously lost one and won one and we are respected in this tournament,” Robertson added.

    “Maybe the first season when we went to the final, I don’t think we were really respected until maybe after the quarter-final when we went to Porto and washed them away (winning 5-0 in Portugal).

    “We did not get the respect we deserved. Now, we know we are respected in Europe. No one will want us but everyone who gets into the last 16 will fancy themselves.

    Read:Liverpool draw Everton in FA Cup third round

    “Last year and the year before we have been excellent in the knockout stages and we have controlled games but we know that now, we are the champions and everyone wants to beat us.

    “That is what we have to deal with and hopefully we can deal with it well. But there are about 40 games between now and the last 16 (in February) – so we will worry about that when the time comes.”

    The win in Salzburg was seen as a breakthrough moment for midfielder Naby Keita, which could be considered strange for a player who is in his second season at the club.

    Source: skysports.com