English football to trial new rule for goalkeeper tactical timeouts

By Reuben Castle — 27 July 2026 — 3 min read

New Rule to Address Goalkeeper Stoppages

English football leagues are preparing to trial new measures aimed at addressing tactical timeouts by goalkeepers. The Premier League, EFL, FA, National League, and WSL have all agreed to participate in the trial, which has received permission from the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

The trial seeks to prevent instances where goalkeepers might feign injury to waste time or allow their teams to regroup and receive instructions from coaches. Under the proposed rule, if a referee permits a physio to treat a goalkeeper, the team’s coach will have 10 seconds to select an outfield player to leave the pitch for one minute. If no player is nominated within this timeframe, the team captain will be required to leave the field instead.

The nominated player must remain off the field for a minimum of one minute after play restarts. This measure is intended to ensure that genuine injuries receive proper medical attention while removing any potential sporting advantage gained from stoppages. The trial could be implemented as early as the Carabao Cup preliminary round.

Rationale Behind the Trial

The practice of goalkeepers appearing to take tactical timeouts has become a notable feature in recent seasons, with some instances drawing criticism. For example, in November, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury during a Premier League match. Farke suggested this was done to allow City boss Pep Guardiola to communicate with his players when Leeds had momentum.

Similarly, in December, Gary Neville speculated that Newcastle’s Aaron Ramsdale went down against Manchester United following an instruction from Lewis Hall, which Neville believed originated from Magpies boss Eddie Howe. These incidents highlight the perceived issue the new trial aims to tackle.

The logic behind the trial draws a parallel with the existing rule for outfield players, who must leave the field for one minute if treated on the pitch. While sending a goalkeeper to the sideline would create too significant a disadvantage, the current system has been seen to allow a loophole for teams to exploit. This new measure is designed to close that loophole.

Exceptions and Future Outlook

There will be specific exceptions to the requirement for an outfield player to leave the pitch. These include situations where a free kick is awarded for a foul on the goalkeeper, if the goalkeeper and an outfield player collide and both require attention, or if the goalkeeper is bleeding. Additionally, if there is any concern about a serious injury, such as a concussion, no outfield player will be sent off.

The Pro Ref, English football’s professional refereeing body, discussed various options with the FA and leagues before settling on the nominated-player approach. They stated that the aim is to support game flow while upholding player welfare standards. The trial will be monitored throughout the season by English football stakeholders and IFAB to assess its effectiveness. If successful, the measure could become a permanent part of the game’s laws in time for the 2027-28 season.

Source: skysports.com