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.