Hmm. I'm sure the controller timed their break specifically to coincide with the arrival of this aircraft just to be awkward-well that's the spin the media seem to have put on it in the usual jet drama horror tabloid style.
The more likely situation is that there was a staffing problem at EGFF and the controller in question was required BY LAW to take a 30 min. SCRATCOH break. If they had decided to stay plugged in even for a few minutes extra to provide a service for this aircraft,the law would have been broken. If during this time there is an incident directly attributable to the controller who has not taken a fatigue break,the book would be hurled squarely at them. Just my theory so hopefully one of m'colleagues from EGFF can put us right as to what happened. As an aside I seem to remember a similar story hitting the pages of the Scottish red tops a few years ago with an aircraft inbound to one of the western isles. The single controller on duty refused to provide a service until he had completed his SCRATCOH break and the inbound had to hold for half an hour. All legal though.