English football authorities will introduce a new trial rule for the 2026-27 season to prevent teams from using goalkeepers to create tactical timeouts in matches.
The trial, approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), has been adopted by the Football Association, the Premier League, the English Football League, the National League and the Women’s Super League.
The measure is designed to discourage teams from using goalkeeper injury stoppages to regroup, receive coaching instructions or disrupt an opponent’s momentum.
How the new rule will work
Under the trial, once a referee signals for medical staff to enter the field to treat a goalkeeper, the affected team will have 10 seconds to nominate an outfield player to leave the pitch.
The selected player must remain off the field for one minute after play resumes. If the coach fails to nominate a player within the allotted time, the team’s captain will be required to leave the field instead.
The goalkeeper, however, will remain on the pitch after receiving treatment.
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The first match to use the new rule will be the Carabao Cup preliminary-round fixture between Tranmere Rovers and Rochdale on Saturday.
Why the rule is being introduced
The move follows growing concern over the increasing use of goalkeeper injury breaks as unofficial tactical timeouts.
In recent seasons, goalkeepers have frequently gone to ground and called for medical attention, allowing teammates to gather around the technical area for instructions before play resumes. Coaches have also been accused of using the stoppages to slow the tempo of games when opponents are dominating possession.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke publicly criticised the practice last season, accusing then-Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of using injury treatment to “bend the rules” and interrupt the flow of play.
IFAB and referees sought stronger deterrent
At IFAB’s Annual General Meeting earlier this year, chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina, identified goalkeeper tactical stoppages as a priority for lawmakers.
During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Collina instructed referees to prevent players from gathering around technical areas during stoppages. However, football authorities concluded that this measure alone would not stop coaches from exploiting goalkeeper treatment breaks.
The new trial mirrors an existing law that requires injured outfield players receiving on-field treatment to leave the pitch temporarily before returning.
Situations exempt from the rule
An outfield player will not be required to leave the field if:
The goalkeeper does not require medical treatment and play has not been stopped.
The goalkeeper collides with a teammate.
The goalkeeper is fouled and requires immediate treatment.
The goalkeeper is bleeding.
The goalkeeper suffers a serious injury or concussion requiring substitution.
Where a goalkeeper is substituted, the replacement will enter without delay.
Player welfare concerns remain
There have been some concerns that the temporary reduction to 10 players could encourage injured footballers to avoid treatment to avoid disadvantaging their teams.
Football authorities say the impact of the trial will be monitored throughout the season before IFAB decides whether to introduce the rule permanently.
Separate clarification on mistaken identity
Separately, IFAB has clarified that FIFA’s use of the mistaken identity protocol during the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains under review.
The clarification follows controversial decisions involving Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron and Switzerland’s Breel Embolo, both of whom were booked for simulation after video review. Embolo’s second caution resulted in his dismissal during Switzerland’s quarter-final defeat to Argentina.
IFAB said the application of the protocol was “well received” but confirmed it would not become part of the Laws of the Game until its wider review of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) protocol is completed.
Football’s lawmakers are expected to assess the outcome of the goalkeeper timeout trial during the season, with a decision on a permanent worldwide law change possible before the start of the 2027-28 campaign.
