Premier League asked to change rules after incident Gary Neville found ‘ridiculous’ in Sunderland win vs Newcastle
Gary Neville was left unimpressed after Dan Burn was forced to leave the field due to Nordi Mukiele’s challenge in the Tyne-Wear derby on Sunday.
It was no doubt a memorable match for Sunderland fans as they overcame Newcastle 1-0 thanks to a Nick Woltemade own goal.
However, the first half was less inspiring, with few shots occurring, while fouls were in full flow.
Mukiele was one Black Cats star who was booked for a clash with Burn. Yet, while the challenge itself was a minor point in the game, the aftermath of the incident has sparked debate.
Keith Hackett: Premier League rules need changing regarding injured players
Mukiele’s challenge on Burns ultimately led to Burns being forced off the field before he was eventually subbed off.
As a result, for a small portion of the match, Newcastle were down to 10 players, giving the hosts an advantage.
Commentating on Sky Sports on 14 December, Neville was quick to criticise this rule.
“It is a daft rule, the 30-second rule, in incidents like this.
“It is ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous that he has to wait to come back on the pitch and Newcastle have to play with 10 men.”
“Look at the faces, feel what it means, understand the enormity!” 🎙️
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 14, 2025
Sunderland have won the derby! pic.twitter.com/slip2bcGGI
Now, Keith Hackett has called for the rule to be changed entirely, with the player who committed the foul potentially going off alongside the injured player.
He exclusively told Mackem News: “So Dan Burns of Newcastle United is injured following a challenge by his opponent, who rightly received a yellow card.
“It was evident that Burns required lengthy treatment and then had to go off the field of play. He then has to stand at the touchline whilst the game gets underway.
“The person who committed the foul challenge is allowed to stay on the field, his team having a one-man advantage.
“This law needs to be revisited, and a change in protocol needs to take place.
“It appears to me that if the injured player goes off, then so should the player who has committed the original offence”
What did Dan Ballard say after the game?
The victory was no doubt a special moment for many fans at the Stadium of Light.
The Tyne-Wear derby has been a rare sight in recent years, with Sunderland previously struggling in the lower tiers while Newcastle enjoyed success in the Premier League.
However, Sunday showed that the Black Cats are more than a match for their rivals as they got revenge for their heavy FA Cup defeat a couple of seasons back.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Dan Ballard was overjoyed with the result.
He said: “You cannot describe [the feeling]. It was so painful [losing 3-0 at home to Newcastle in the FA Cup in January 2024] for the players and for the fans so we felt we had let them down so we’re delighted with this win.
“It prepared us more for today. We came in with more quality in this team, real leaders, we stuck in there, fought really hard and I thought we deserved the win.
“There was not much in the game in terms of chances. When you go a goal ahead it’s about game management and I thought we did that very well – the boys were brilliant.”
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