Credit: Imago

Declan Carr

Sun 22 March 2026 18:10, UK

Keith Hackett has called for FIFA and IFAB to act over the time-wasting controversy from Leeds United‘s 0-0 draw with Brentford.

The Whites criticised the Bees on social media in the contest, as Caoimhin Kelleher went down in the 70th minute.

Keith Andrews was spotted giving tactical instructions to his players during the stoppage, and Hackett feels like it is an increasing problem.

Leeds ultimately came away from Elland Road with a point, but the frustration with their opponent’s strategy was evident, and it is shared by the ex-PGMOL chief.

What did Hackett say about Leeds vs Brentford controversy?

Andrews’ has come across as a hypocrite following his previous Leeds comments, and Hackett believes that something has to be done about the issue.

Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, he said: “Somehow, football has got to find a way of dealing with these tactical stoppages, where the goalkeeper goes down feigning injury, and the manager calls his players to the side of the pitch, and starts to apply different tactics to the game.

“It is difficult for referees, they have got to respond to an injured player, it is a goalkeeper, the goalkeeper can be treated on the field of play.

“What are FIFA and IFAB going to do? They have got to find a way of dealing with this problem for sure, it is stopping the flow of the game, it is unnecessary stoppages, and I don’t see any real gain coming from it.”

What can FIFA and IFAB do about the problem?

The governing body and the game’s lawmakers could try to ban the tactic, but whether that would actually work is questionable.

What would the sanction be if that were the case? A booking for the manager? A booking for the whole team? Fines for the club?

It seems like an extremely difficult issue to find a solution for, but as Hackett states, it must be dealt with, as it is an unfair advantage to the offending team.

It is not in the spirit of the game, and it makes the product on the pitch more unappealing, which the Premier League will not want, as they want to attract as many people as possible.