Removed from bench for not playing well (3,4)
I believe the answer is:
off form
'not playing well' is the definition.
'removed from bench' is the wordplay.
'removed from' becomes 'off'.
'bench' becomes 'form' (I've seen this before).
'off'+'form'='OFF FORM'
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for off form that I've seen before include "Not at one's best" , "playing badly" , "Describing indifferent quality" .)