Roy Keane and Andy Robertson have reflected on the incident that saw the ex-Liverpool defender elbowed by an assistant referee and branded as a "big baby"
Andy Robertson and Roy Keane
Andy Robertson and Roy Keane were reunited on The Overlap
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Roy Keane has refused to apologise to Andy Robertson after labelling the former Liverpool left-back as a "big baby" following his altercation with an assistant referee.
Back in April 2023, Robertson claimed he had been elbowed in the throat by linesman Constantine Hatzidakis during a 2-2 draw between Liverpool and Arsenal. The Scot was incensed after Hatzidakis appeared to swing at him at half-time, but Keane had little sympathy and insisted he should instead focus on his defending.
When asked about the incident by presenter David Jones, Keane said: "But Robertson, do you know what, does he grab the linesman first? I'm not sure, but he's complaining. He should be more worried about his defending.
"Do you know what it is, that Robertson? I've watched him a number of times. He's a big baby. That's what he is. Just get on with the game and concentrate on your defending. He does grab the linesman first."
Now, more than three years on, Robertson and Keane have reflected on the infamous incident with the former Hull City and Dundee United defender, who is now at Tottenham, appearing on the latest episode of The Overlap.
Keane said: "Players have to remember, and this is not an apology, when in the studio, we can have long days can't we? Can be a bit flat, a player can do something and you're agitated by like a long day."
Replying to Keane, Robertson joked: "The first two babys were alright, the third was one too far."
Andy Robertson
Andy Robertson was called a 'baby' by Roy Keane
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Keane then responded in a tongue-in-cheek manner, adding: "In my defence, traffic all the way to game, and what have you, but they're not saying anything, you've got to say something, that's why I said the last 'baby'. They're all staring at me like, 'f****** say something'. Am I right?"
Robertson finished with a comment to Jamie Carragher, who laughed at Keane at the time. "I wasn't happy with you (Carragher) laughing either by the way)," Robertson said.
In the end, Hatzidakis faced no punishment from the PGMOL for the incident but didn't assist another Liverpool game up until January 2025, when he ran the line for the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Tottenham.
Robertson, meanwhile, left Liverpool earlier this summer after nine years at Anfield and has since joined Spurs on a free transfer. However, his start to life in north London has been difficult with Roberto De Zerbi's side without a win from their opening five Premier League matches this season.
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