Be reluctant to suspend a footballer (4,4)

I believe the answer is:

hang back

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'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" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail and The Guardian.

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