New Rule to Address Tactical Stoppages
Top English football leagues, including the Premier League, EFL, and WSL, are set to trial new measures aimed at addressing tactical timeouts by goalkeepers. This initiative, agreed upon by key stakeholders such as the FA and Pro Ref, has received permission from the International Football Association Board (IFAB) for implementation. The trial seeks to mitigate instances where goalkeepers may feign injury to disrupt play, allowing managers to regroup and convey instructions to their teams.
Under the new regulations, if a referee signals for medical staff to treat a goalkeeper, the team’s coach will have 10 seconds to select an outfield player to leave the pitch for one minute. Should no player be nominated within this timeframe, the team captain will be required to leave the field. The player chosen must remain off the field for a minimum of one minute after play resumes. This measure is intended to ensure that genuine injuries receive appropriate medical attention while removing any potential sporting advantage gained from stoppages.
The trial is expected to commence with the forthcoming season, potentially featuring in the Carabao Cup preliminary round. The first Premier League fixture where this rule could apply, pending IFAB approval, is Arsenal’s opening match against newly promoted Coventry City.
Rationale Behind the Change
Discussions have been ongoing regarding how to eliminate the issue of goalkeepers allegedly feigning injury to waste time. This tactic has been observed to allow managers to regroup their players and pass on tactical information, often disrupting the opposing team’s momentum, particularly in the latter stages of close matches. The spectacle of goalkeepers receiving treatment while teammates receive tactical advice has become a noticeable feature in recent seasons.
The logic behind the trial draws from existing rules where outfield players treated on the field must leave for a minute. While sending a goalkeeper off would create too significant a disadvantage, the current system has presented a loophole for teams to exploit. This new measure aims to close that loophole. English football authorities, along with IFAB, will monitor the trial’s effectiveness throughout the season to assess its impact on game flow and player welfare.
There are specific exceptions to this rule. An outfield player will not be required to leave the field if the goalkeeper has suffered a foul immediately before the stoppage, if there has been a collision between the goalkeeper and an outfield player (even if not a foul), if the goalkeeper is visibly bleeding, or if the injury is deemed serious, such as a concussion, requiring a substitution. Additionally, if a free kick is awarded for a foul on the goalkeeper and immediate treatment is needed, the rule will not apply.
Past Incidents and Future Implications
Several incidents have highlighted the issue of perceived tactical timeouts. In November, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury during a Premier League match. Farke suggested that this allowed City manager Pep Guardiola to speak to his players at a point when Leeds had the upper hand. City ultimately won the match.
Similarly, in December, reports suggested that Newcastle’s Aaron Ramsdale went to ground against Manchester United following an instruction from Lewis Hall, which originated from Magpies boss Eddie Howe. Luke Shaw was preparing to take a throw-in for United in the eighth minute when the stoppage occurred. In March, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler also criticised David Raya for what appeared to be a tactical timeout.
The new rule is part of a broader effort to crack down on time-wasting in football, a trend that has influenced several recent rule changes by the game’s lawmakers. Other alterations introduced ahead of the World Cup, such as countdowns for goal kicks, throw-ins, and substitutions, are also set to be adopted by the Premier League for the upcoming season. The professional English soccer pyramid, including the FA Cup, Carabao Cup, EFL Championship, League One, League Two, and the National League, will universally implement this measure. The trial could feature for the first time in the Carabao Cup preliminary round.
IFAB had indicated its intent to address tactical timeouts at its annual general meeting in February but stated that trials would not be approved until after the World Cup. In the interim, FIFA’s refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina instructed officials during this summer’s tournament to prevent players from entering the technical area during treatment stoppages. If the trials prove successful, the measure is likely to be incorporated into the game’s official laws in time for the 2027-28 season.
Source: skysports.com
Niamh Pendlebury is the Sports Reporter at NewsGB.org, covering tennis, cricket and athletics with seven years of reporting experience. She reported on Team GB and the county circuit. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Central Lancashire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Preston, she plays club tennis and follows road running. “The best interviews come from patience, not pressure.”