Be reluctant to suspend a footballer (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
hang back
'be reluctant' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'suspend a footballer' is the wordplay.
'suspend' becomes 'hang' (to hang is to suspend from something).
'a footballer' becomes 'back' (back is a kind of footballer).
'hang'+'back'='HANG BACK'
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hang back that I've seen before include "Remain behind" , "Get behind" , "Show reluctance" .)