Andy Robertson has already discovered a clever trick to beat FIFA’s new throw-in timer.
Fans are saying Andy Robertson might have found a clever trick to beat FIFA’s new throw-in countdown rule after using a smart move during Scotland’s World Cup opener.
Scotland is currently top of Group C after one game, thanks to John McGinn’s winning goal against underdogs Haiti. This was Scotland’s first World Cup win since 1990 when they beat Sweden 2-1. After the match at Boston Stadium, captain Andy Robertson shared his excitement.
“What an amazing feeling. The lads made their dreams come true today,” he said. “It was a long day waiting, and I can’t imagine how the fans back home felt staying up late.”
He added, “Three important points. Sure, people expected us to win, but we had to go out and do it. It was so important, and I’m so happy we did.”
One big topic from the game was Robertson’s seeming ‘hack’ to get around FIFA’s new throw-in rule. This year, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) introduced several changes to speed up the game and make it more fun for fans and players.
One of these changes is a visible five-second countdown for throw-ins and goal-kicks to stop time-wasting. If the ball isn’t thrown or kicked within five seconds, the other team gets the ball.
During the game, with Scotland leading 1-0, Robertson told his teammates to get ready before he picked up the ball, which started the referee’s countdown. Fans quickly noticed his smart tactic on social media.
One fan said, “Modern football summed up—a rule meant to make things faster is beaten right away.” Another added, “This kind of thinking is exactly what Tottenham needs.”
Someone else wrote, “Very clever! We’ll probably see more of this. Teams always find ways around new rules, especially when they’re introduced right before a big tournament.”
Others pointed out how fast the loophole was found: “New rule to stop time-wasting… and within days teams already found a way around it.”
After the win, Scotland’s coach, Clarke, responded to people who thought Scotland should have won by a bigger score.
He told ITV, “That’s the opinion of people who don’t really understand football. I knew this would be a tough game, and Haiti played really well. But we got the three points, which was our goal.”
He also said, “Everyone says ‘must win.’ Well, we won—give us credit for that.”