Matildas is accused of using dirty tactics in a crucial World Cup moment that helped them give Denmark the upper hand – with Steph Catley at the center of the controversy

Questions have been raised about an injury time-out involving Steph Catley, Matilda’s replacement captain, and whether it was a tactical ploy to buy time for the team to get things right against Denmark.

While the Matildas had comfortable 2-0 winners over Denmark in their World Cup round of 16 women’s knockout matches last night, the Aussies were under the pump in the early exchanges.

The Danes dominated midfield and threatened to score as Catley made some minor contact and fell to the turf.

She lay down for medical treatment and the rest of the players rushed to coach Tony Gustavsson for a team meeting.

It has raised questions about whether Catley was really hurt or if it was game play to disrupt Denmark’s early dominance.

The stoppage of play caused by the Catley injury assessment allowed Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson to call an impromptu timeout to give instructions to his forwards

Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter comforts Denmark’s Signe Bruun after Australia knock out the Danes from the World Cup

Former Matilda Grace Gill popped the question in Channel 7 commentary.

“It’s a good question if this moment was just a quick tactical discussion because… there was a quick gathering of the players around Tony Gustavsson,” she said.

“Maybe to get a little dynamism out of Denmark, who started this opening stanza very brightly.”

Sideline reporter Adam Peacock added, “I’m not sure she called this so the rest of the team can go talk to Tony Gustavsson.

‘Hopefully it’s good. As soon as Catley reached the deck, Gustavsson waved to say, ‘Come over and have a chat.’

Veteran football commentator David Basheer also said Catley’s move appeared deliberate.

“You just wonder if that was a tactical ploy. Other countries are doing it,” he said.

Catley, who played out the rest of the game, downplayed suggestions that her medical timeout was tactical.

“It’s a great coincidence,” she said.

“Sometimes it’s a good reset when there’s a break in the game, and the girls came over and talked to Tony. But I’m all good, healthy and ready for the next game.’

Catley was able to continue the game and downplayed suggestions that her injury assessment was a tactical ploy by the Matildas

Gustavsson said that while the timeout was not intentional, it was a welcome reprieve for the Matildas at the time.

‘Football is one of the team sports that is very difficult to make tactical adjustments during the game because there are no time-outs! It’s a long way for the players to hear when 75,000 are in the stands,” he said.

He added, “It wasn’t just me talking in that group. The players did as much as I did to get on the same wavelength… at such a time when you can barely hear each other in the park, it’s very important that the players see the same image.

‘Football is one of the team sports that is very difficult to make tactical adjustments during the game because there are no time-outs! It’s a long way for the players to hear when 75,000 are in the stands

“Tonight that break helped us a lot.”