Robertson’s Throw-In “Trick” Is Legal in Part, but Not a Guaranteed Loophole

Liverpool left-back Andrew Robertson, 32, went viral after using an unusual tactic on throw-ins, apparently trying to get around the five-second limit. Toward the end of the season, before he is expected to join Tottenham, Robertson placed the ball on the ground and only then prepared to take the throw, a move that seemed designed to stop the referee’s clock from starting while he was holding the ball.

The idea may have been borrowed from basketball, where players sometimes let the ball roll in the backcourt to waste time. The article notes that no other footballers have yet been seen copying Robertson’s approach under the new throw-in rule.

However, the official laws do not fully support the “hack.” The rule says a referee can begin counting if a player deliberately delays a throw-in or receives the ball slowly, so Robertson’s action can still be judged time-wasting. Unlike the normal in-play countdown, this is at the referee’s discretion.

The laws of the game state that if a player unfairly delays the throw-in, the referee will count five seconds with hand signals, and possession will switch if the throw is not taken. A player is warned only if he delays after the ball has already gone out of play. In other words, the delay does not have to happen only while the player is holding the ball.