Alleged time-wasting tactic could soon be banned following Newcastle-Man Utd stoppage

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 27 Dec 2025 05:57 CST
• 5 min read

Nieuws

Newcastle went down to a 1-0 Premier League loss to Manchester United on Boxing Day, despite Eddie Howe’s side being accused of exploiting a tactical loophole that could soon be banned.

United manager Ruben Amorim sprung a major surprise at kick-off as the home side lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation – the first time that the Portuguese has abandoned a back three since arriving in the club in November 2024.

It was a plot that the home side managed to keep well hidden. Even in the warm-up before the game began, they lined up as if to play their usual 3-4-3.

Howe was understandably caught on the hop and had to think laterally to cope with the situation.

What did Newcastle do?

With nine minutes played, Newcastle goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale went down apparently injured, with the visitors taking advantage of the break to reshuffle tactically.

No laws were broken, but Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville believes the former Arsenal man was feigning injury.

“I’m going to be a little bit cynical, and I might be proved a little bit wrong, but I think Eddie Howe’s told Lewis Hall to tell Ramsdale to go down,” he said.

“I think there’s a message going on and I think they’re changing off the back of what United are doing. Look at what Lewis Hall’s doing. I think Eddie Howe’s said: ‘Stop the game’. Look at Lewis Hall, he’s turned into a coach.”

Goalkeepers, unlike outfield players, do not need to go off the field when receiving treatment, so Ramsdale going down holding his hamstring allowed Newcastle to get a tactical message onto the field while the medical staff were on.

He was subsequently able to get up and continue immediately, leaving his side unpenalized.

In the immediate aftermath of injury, Newcastle took hold of the game, with Patrick Dorgu’s goal coming against the flow of the match at that point. Man Utd took command before the break, but the visitors dominated in the second half but were wasteful in the final third.

What did Eddie Howe say?

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Howe did not respond to a suggestion that Ramsdale’s treatment was tactical.

“After Aaron Ramsdale went down in the ninth minute, you did seem to get to grips with what was going on,” it was put to him by the interviewer.

Howe responded: “I don’t think there was a tactical problem for us at any stage in the game.

“We were rocked by the goal. We didn’t respond well to that moment.

“I don’t think it was a tactical issue for us. I don’t think we looked as physically good as we did in our last match against Chelsea, when we were physically outstanding.”

Donnarumma incident sparks Farke anger

While the evidence is circumstantial over Ramsdale’s injury and Newcastle’s immediate tactical adjustments, they would not be the first team this season to take advantage of this law for respite.

In November, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of similar antics as his side lost 3-2, with Pep Guardiola’s side rocking.

“Everyone knows why he went down,” Farke fumed.

“It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is smart. If I like it? If it's within the sense of fair play? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the authorities to find a solution.

“If we don't educate our players in football what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just try to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like personally. But if it is within the rules I can't complain.”

It was an incident that brought the issue to the fore.

Goalkeepers going off injured: Action will be taken

IFAB (International Football Association Board), which is the regulatory body that is responsible for creating and changing the laws of the game, is already said to have discussed a change in the rules regarding these alleged tactical time outs.

BBC Sport reports that the problem was “talked about at length”, with two solutions suggested.

Firstly, teams could nominate a player to go off for the 30 seconds instead of the goalkeeper, thereby removing the incentive for the shot-stopper to go down.

Secondly, it was suggested that players could be banned from the touchline during a stoppage in play.

It is claimed that the issue will be discussed again on 20 January, with a nominated outfielder being taken off for 30 seconds a solution that is gaining increasing support.

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