New Rule to Combat Time-Wasting
English football will implement a trial designed to address instances of goalkeepers allegedly feigning injury to create tactical timeouts. This measure, approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), will see a significant change in how medical stoppages for goalkeepers are handled across various leagues and competitions.
The trial will apply to the Premier League, Women’s Super League, English Football League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and the National League. It is intended to ensure that genuine injuries receive appropriate medical attention while removing any potential sporting advantage gained from stoppages.
Under the new regulations, if a referee permits a physio to treat a goalkeeper, the team’s manager must nominate an outfield player to leave the field for one minute. The manager will have 10 seconds to inform the fourth official of their choice. If no player is nominated within this timeframe, the captain will be temporarily removed from play. If the goalkeeper is also the captain, the outfield player designated to speak with the referee before the match will be removed.
This approach aims to deter teams from using goalkeeper injuries as a tactic to disrupt the opposition’s momentum or allow for tactical discussions. The logic behind the trial is that, while sending a goalkeeper to the sideline would be too great a disadvantage, the current system has created a loophole that teams can exploit.
Exceptions and Implementation
There are specific exceptions to this new rule. An outfield player will not be required to leave the field if the goalkeeper has collided with another player, has been fouled, or if there is a concern about a serious injury, including a concussion. Additionally, if the goalkeeper is visibly bleeding, the rule will not apply. If the goalkeeper disagrees with the referee and waves away medical staff, the rule also does not apply.
The trial is set to begin in August. The first fixture expected to feature this new measure is the Carabao Cup preliminary round match between Tranmere Rovers and Rochdale on Saturday, August 1. The first Premier League match under these new rules, pending IFAB approval, is Arsenal’s opening fixture against Coventry City on Friday, August 21.
This initiative follows concerns raised by managers regarding tactical timeouts. For example, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke previously accused Manchester City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury during a match. Farke suggested that such actions allowed opposing managers to provide tactical instructions to their players.
IFAB had indicated its intention to address these tactical timeouts at its annual general meeting in February. While English football has chosen the nominated-player option for its trial, other leagues, such as Australia’s A-League, will test a version where the captain always leaves the field. No other major European leagues, including La Liga, the Bundesliga, Serie A, or Ligue 1, have yet volunteered for this trial scheme, and it will not be applicable in the Champions League.
If the trials are successful, the measure could be formally added to the game’s laws for the 2027-28 season.
Source: nytimes.com
Adam Rutherford is a Senior Football Correspondent at News-UK. He spent his early career filing match reports across the North West. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Manchester Metropolitan University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Manchester, he coaches a youth team and watches grassroots football. “Every transfer window hides a dozen real stories.”
