Football’s growing shame

It would take a brave man to pick a fight with Roy Keane, and nobody could quarrel with his view of Liverpool’s Scotland fullback Andy Robertson after a skirmish at Anfield. Robertson appeared to be feebly elbowed in the face as he approached linesman Constantine Hatzidakis at half time. The Scotland captain reacted in the traditional way, as if he had been waterboarded. Keane’s view was as ever imperious: ‘You know what he is that Robertson? I’ve watched him a number of times – he’s a big baby.’

Anyone who has ever seen Liverpool should be all in favour of referees’ assistants sticking one on Robertson every now and again. Karma or what! All that verbal abuse, finger–wagging and head-shaking over every manifestly correct throw-in decision. Hatzidakis now appears to have been stood down while some investigation into the incident trundles on.