English football to trial new rule to prevent goalkeeper tactical time-outs
New Trial for Goalkeeper Injuries
English football is set to introduce a trial this season aimed at addressing tactical time-outs involving goalkeepers. This initiative, supported by Pro Ref, the Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, Women’s Super League, and the National League, seeks to prevent situations where goalkeeper injuries might be used to disrupt game momentum or provide opportunities for tactical instructions.
The new measures have received approval from the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and are scheduled to be implemented throughout the 2026-27 domestic season. Under the trial, if a game is halted due to a goalkeeper injury, the manager or head coach will be required to nominate an outfield player to leave the pitch immediately. This nominated player must remain off the field for a minimum of one minute after play restarts.
The primary goal of this trial is to ensure that genuine injuries continue to receive appropriate medical attention, while simultaneously eliminating any potential sporting advantage that could arise from such stoppages. This approach is intended to close a loophole where teams might exploit the absence of a player being sent off for a goalkeeper’s on-field treatment.
Exceptions and Related Measures
The trial includes several exceptions to ensure fair play and player welfare. An outfield player will not be required to leave the field if a free-kick is awarded for a foul on the goalkeeper and immediate treatment is needed. Other exceptions include instances where the goalkeeper and an outfield player have collided and both require attention, or if the goalkeeper is bleeding.
This new trial builds upon previous efforts to increase ball-in-play time and reduce unnecessary delays in professional football. Last season, the goalkeeper eight-second rule was successfully introduced, penalizing goalkeepers who hold the ball for too long with a corner for the opposition.
Further measures will also be implemented alongside the goalkeeper injury trial. From the start of the 2026-27 season, match officials will use a five-second countdown as a time-management tool for players who delay taking a throw-in or goal-kick. Additionally, a ten-second time limit for players leaving the pitch when substituted will be in effect across the professional game, starting with the Carabao Cup on 1 August.
The practice of goalkeepers receiving treatment, sometimes perceived as tactical time-outs, has been observed in recent seasons. For example, in November, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke reportedly accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning an injury during a Premier League match. This incident, which occurred during a period when Leeds had momentum, was followed by City winning the match 3-2.
While officials will not prevent players from going to the touchline during a goalkeeper’s treatment, it is hoped that the prospect of playing with ten players, particularly in the latter stages of a game, will deter teams from using this tactic unless the injury is genuine. The English game has chosen this nominated-player option after discussions with the FA and various leagues, with the trial set to be monitored throughout the season.
Source: theguardian.com
Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”
