Trial to be introduced in bid to prevent goalkeeper tactical time-outs
English football's governing bodies will trial new measures this season aimed at stopping goalkeepers from using feigned or exaggerated injuries as tactical time-outs. The initiative, backed jointly by Pro Ref, the Football Association, the Premier League, the English Football League, the Women's Super League and the National League, follows incidents such as Manchester City's Gianluigi Donnarumma being accused by Leeds head coach Daniel Farke of faking injury. The change still requires approval from the International Football Association Board (Ifab) but is intended to run throughout the 2026-27 domestic season.
Under the trial, if play stops for a goalkeeper injury, the manager must immediately nominate an outfield player to leave the pitch, who must then stay off for at least one minute after the restart, removing any tactical advantage from the stoppage. Genuine emergencies are exempted, including fouls on the goalkeeper requiring immediate treatment, collisions with outfield players, or bleeding. It builds on last season's successful eight-second goalkeeper rule, alongside a new five-second countdown for delayed throw-ins and goal-kicks, and a 10-second limit for substituted players to leave the pitch, effective from the Carabao Cup's start on 1 August.
- English football trials rule to stop fake goalkeeper injury time-outs
- Manager must sub off an outfield player for a minute if a goalkeeper is treated
- Builds on the successful eight-second goalkeeper possession rule
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In football, goalkeepers sometimes stop play by claiming to be injured when they are not genuinely hurt, allowing their team to waste time tactically. English football's governing bodies are trialling a new rule this season to discourage this practice.
If a goalkeeper injury halts play under the trial, the opposing manager must immediately remove one of their outfield players for at least a minute after the game restarts. This removes any time advantage the stopping team would gain, since they will have fewer players available. Genuine injuries—from fouls, collisions or bleeding—are exempt from this rule.
The measure is part of a broader effort to speed up the game and reduce delays. It follows other recent changes such as limiting goalkeepers to eight seconds for distribution and introducing time limits for throw-ins and substitutions.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The trial protects competitive fairness and match entertainment by removing tactical advantage from injury stoppages. The exemptions for genuine injuries—including fouls, collisions and bleeding—address safety concerns, whilst the outfield player requirement makes time-wasting costly enough to discourage abuse. Building on successful measures like the eight-second goalkeeper rule demonstrates a measured, evidence-based approach to improving play flow.
The case against
The measure risks creating perverse incentives where managers avoid treating injured goalkeepers or pressure them to play through injury, fearing the team penalty. It assumes bad faith rather than trusting referees' existing authority to distinguish genuine from feigned injuries, and prioritising match tempo over player welfare sets a concerning precedent. The penalty structure could also unfairly harm teams whose goalkeeper is legitimately hurt late in a match.