GREEK TRAGEDY FOR FOREST?

THE EFL’s appointment of Constantine Hatzidakis as assistant referee for Bournemouth’s 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest that clinched their promotion on Tuesday raised eyebrows among the refereeing community before the winner-takes-all fixture, with their concerns vindicated by his involvement in several controversial decisions. Hatzidakis denied the visitors a clear penalty in the 41st minute by incorrectly flagging for offside and, with VAR not available in the Championship, referee Stuart Attwell had no option but to let the decision stand. The controversy led to Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis complaining that ‘promotion has been snatched away’ following his side’s defeat. Marinakis also owns Greek club Olympiacos and his sense of injustice was not helped by the fact that Hatzidakis’s family are fans

of Panathinaikos, their greatest rivals.