Scotland captain Andy Robertson has attracted attention online after finding a clever way around the new five-second throw-in rule at the World Cup.
The Liverpool defender showcased his quick thinking during the Tartan Army’s narrow 1-0 victory over Haiti in their opening match of the tournament on Saturday.
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Under the new regulation, a player has five seconds to take a throw-in once the ball is in their hands. Robertson avoided any rush by leaving the ball on the ground until both he and his teammates were in position.
The Scotland skipper’s approach sparked debate on social media, with opinions divided over whether it was smart play or gamesmanship.
One wrote: “Sums up modern football, a law brought in to make the game more entertaining is immediately neutralised by teams.”
Scotland captain Andy Robertson may have already cracked FIFA’s new throw-in countdown rule.
Instead of picking up the ball immediately, he gets his teammates into position first, only then does he start the referee’s countdown.
Simple. Clever. Effective. 👏#AndyRobertson… pic.twitter.com/SlgK09HFbS
— ViBe👑kiNG – 20-10-20🕊 (@xRiZtOpHA) June 14, 2026
Another said: “A new way to cheat/waste time.”
While others saw the brighter side: “Very clever, I dare say we will be seeing more of this. People will start to push back on the new rules in little ways.”
Another wrote: “Top 10 respect moments.”
Scotland secured all three points in a hard-fought and untidy contest, with Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn scoring the decisive goal in the 28th minute after his effort took a deflection.
Some supporters felt Scotland were fortunate, having escaped a potential red card while Haiti also had strong claims for two penalties.
However, those connected with Scotland will be focused only on the result, as the victory provided the perfect start for Steve Clarke’s side.
They currently lead Group C following Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Morocco and will now turn their attention to a clash with the reigning AFCON champions on Friday.
Manager Steve Clarke admitted that the pressure has eased on his team after they edged past Haiti.
