Cody Gakpo hints at major UEFA rule change after controversial incident in Jurgen Klopp’s first Germany match

Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo has criticised Germany for playing on while there was a player down injured in their Nations League opener against the Netherlands on Thursday.

Gakpo scored a stunning equalising goal in the second minute of stoppage time in Amsterdam, denying new Germany manager and former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp a victory in his first match.

Felix Nmecha had opened the scoring for Klopp's team but Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey was stricken on the edge of the centre circle as Germany attacked.

Read next: Jurgen Klopp triggers a full-team press vs Netherlands with a single hand movement

Germany ‘not sporting’ in Netherlands incident

Brobbey was still down when Nmecha swept in a loose ball from close range and had to be substituted with an apparent muscle injury.

Gakpo, who later volleyed in the leveller from a tremendous cross by debutant Ruben van Bommel, was unhappy with the Germans.

"I think it is normal to stop when a player is lying injured on the ground, even though there are no rules for it," said Gakpo, via Telegraaf. "They didn't do that; that is not sporting."

Klopp won't lose much sleep over the comments of his former player, whose assessment of the incident suggests rather more controversy than is actually warranted by what happened.

Germany had already lost Arsenal forward Kai Havertz to injury after half an hour.

They took the lead over Xavi's Netherlands just a couple of minutes later and Brobbey's injury gave the new boss another problem.

Van Bommel and Gakpo combined to rescue a late point in spectacular fashion as the Liverpool winger demonstrated his agility to convert a beautiful outside-of-the-boot cross from the left flank.

Read next: Jurgen Klopp enforces haircut ban and three other strict rules every Germany player must follow

Jurgen Klopp guided Germany to a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands (Credit:GettyImages)

What are the rules around stopping for injured players?

Contrary to Gakpo's suggestion, the 'normal' procedure when a player is down injured is for the play to continue.

While the player's own team or the opposition can choose to put the ball into touch to stop the game, it is entirely their choice to do so. Otherwise, it's at the discretion of the referee and the rules in that regard are clear.

According to Law 5.3 in the Laws of the Game, which outlines the powers and responsibilities of the referee, only serious injuries require the play to be halted:

"[The referee] allows play to continue until the ball is out of play if a player is only slightly injured [and] stops play only if a player is seriously injured and ensures that the player is removed from the field of play."

Typically, referees do play on except in cases where there is a serious injury or head injury.

Gakpo's comment shows that he's aware of that fact, but instances of teams sportingly putting the ball out of play are now rare.

Indeed, football moved away from players being responsible for that decision precisely because it was unclear and prone to controversy.

Read next: Liverpool fans in total disbelief after hearing what club think of Cody Gakpo staying at club