Didn't get rid of footballer given fewer opportunities than some? (4,4)

I believe the answer is:

kept back

'given fewer opportunities than some?' is the definition.
(to keep someone back is to deny them opportunities)

'didn't get rid of footballer' is the wordplay.
'didn't get rid of' becomes 'kept'.
'footballer' becomes 'back' (back is a kind of footballer).
'kept'+'back'='KEPT BACK'

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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