English Football to trial new rule to eliminate goalkeeper ‘Tactical Timeouts’

English football will implement a trial this season aimed at eradicating the increasingly common practice of goalkeepers feigning injury to secure tactical timeouts, with teams required to temporarily remove an outfield player if their keeper receives treatment .

The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, National League, and Women’s Super League have agreed on the measure, with permission granted by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) . The first game to feature the trial will be the Carabao Cup preliminary round tie between Tranmere and Rochdale on Saturday .

Under the new protocol, if a referee signals for a physio to treat a goalkeeper, the team’s coach will have 10 seconds to nominate an outfield player to leave the pitch for one minute after play restarts, informing the fourth official of their choice . If no player is selected within 10 seconds, the captain must leave the field .

The tactic of goalkeepers going down for treatment allowing coaches to deliver instructions to outfield players gathered on the touchline has become increasingly controversial in recent seasons . Leeds United fans regularly booed opposing goalkeepers for such delays last season, and the practice has been used to disrupt momentum when opponents are on top .

Pro Ref, led by chief refereeing officer Howard Webb, had been in discussions with the leagues to address the issue . English football opted for this trial because it follows the logic already applied to outfield players, who must leave the field for one minute if the physio comes on . The measure is intended as a proactive deterrent rather than a reactive punishment .

There are several exemptions: no player will have to leave if the goalkeeper says they do not need treatment and have not stopped play, if the goalkeeper and an outfield player have collided, if the goalkeeper is fouled and needs immediate treatment, if the goalkeeper is bleeding, or if there is a serious injury requiring substitution or concussion .

Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy had previously suggested this exact solution, saying: “If a keeper goes down injured, instead of him having to go off, one of the outfield players should go off then it’s fair all round. It’s a little change that makes a world of difference.”

The Australian A-League will trial a variation where the captain must always leave the field . The results of the trials will be assessed by IFAB throughout the season, potentially leading to a permanent global law change from the 2027-28 season .