English football is set to trial a new goalkeeper rule aimed at stopping tactical timeouts, with the Premier League backing the proposal
English football is set to introduce a new trial aimed at preventing goalkeepers from using injury stoppages as tactical timeouts, with the Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, National League and Women’s Super League all backing the proposal.
The measure still requires approval from the International Football Association Board (IFAB) before it can be implemented.
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The proposed trial is designed to address a tactic that has become increasingly common in recent seasons, with goalkeepers going to ground for treatment while teammates gather around the technical area to receive instructions from their coaches. The stoppages have also been used to disrupt an opponent’s momentum during key moments of matches.
Under the trial, if a referee calls the physio onto the pitch to treat a goalkeeper, the team will be required to play with 10 men for one minute. The coach will have 10 seconds to nominate an outfield player to leave the field and notify the fourth official. If no player is chosen within that time, the captain will automatically be required to leave the pitch for the one-minute period.
According to BBC Sport, English football’s governing bodies agreed on the proposal after discussions with Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), led by chief refereeing officer Howard Webb. The aim is to create a stronger deterrent than simply preventing players from gathering near the touchline, with officials believing the prospect of playing temporarily with 10 players will discourage teams from exploiting goalkeeper injury stoppages.
If IFAB grants approval in time, the first match to use the trial will be the Carabao Cup preliminary-round tie between Tranmere Rovers and Rochdale on August 1. Australia’s A-League is also expected to trial a variation of the rule, with the captain automatically leaving the field whenever a goalkeeper receives treatment.
In March 2025, IFAB introduced a new rule requiring goalkeepers who hold the ball for more than eight seconds to concede a corner kick to the opposition in an effort to reduce time-wasting.
It appears this another step from the governing body to curb the issue of stop-start games in the Premier League and beyond.
The issue has attracted growing attention across English football. In November, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to “bend the rules” and break up play, highlighting concerns over the tactic’s increasing use at the highest level.
FIFA’s head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, has also identified goalkeeper tactical timeouts as a priority, introducing measures at the 2026 World Cup to prevent players from gathering around the technical area during goalkeeper injury stoppages.
The proposed English trial goes a step further than the World Cup approach by introducing a direct sporting consequence. Rather than simply restricting where players can gather, teams would be forced to continue with one fewer outfield player while treatment is administered, increasing the potential cost of unnecessary stoppages.
Several exemptions are included in the proposal. A player will not have to leave the field if the goalkeeper does not require the physio after stopping play, if the goalkeeper has collided with a teammate, if the goalkeeper has been fouled and needs immediate treatment, if there is bleeding, or in cases involving a serious injury or concussion.
IFAB will monitor the results of the trial throughout the 2026-27 season before deciding whether the change should become part of the Laws of the Game. If the trial proves successful, the rule could be introduced permanently across football from the 2027-28 season.
English Premier League
International Football Association Board (IFAB)