New Rule to Address Tactical Stoppages
The Premier League has confirmed that a new rule regarding ‘goalkeeper tactical timeouts’ will be implemented starting in the 2026-27 season. This initiative, approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), aims to maintain the pace and flow of matches in English professional football. The trial will be introduced across both men’s and women’s professional leagues in England.
The rule is designed to address situations where goalkeeper injuries might be used to disrupt momentum, slow down play, or provide opportunities for tactical instructions from coaches. Organizations including Pro Ref, The FA, Premier League, EFL, WSL Football, and the National League have collectively championed this trial.
Implementation Details and Exceptions
Under the new rule, if a game is stopped due to a goalkeeper injury, the team’s manager or head coach will need to nominate an outfield player to leave the pitch. This nominated player must remain off the field for a minimum of one minute after play restarts. Coaches will have 10 seconds to select which outfield player will depart. If no player is chosen within this timeframe, the team captain will be required to leave the field instead.
There are specific exceptions to this rule. These include instances where a free-kick is awarded for a foul on the goalkeeper and immediate treatment is required, if a goalkeeper and an outfield player collide and both need attention, or if the goalkeeper is bleeding.
The objective of this trial is to ensure that genuine injuries receive appropriate medical care while simultaneously removing any potential sporting advantage that could arise from stoppages. The trial will not be used in the men’s game below National League Step 2.
Previous Incidents and Ongoing Monitoring
The introduction of this rule follows past incidents where goalkeeper stoppages have drawn attention. For example, in November, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke reportedly accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to disrupt play. Similarly, in December, Gary Neville suggested that Newcastle’s Aaron Ramsdale went to ground against Manchester United possibly after an instruction from Lewis Hall, which may have originated from Magpies boss Eddie Howe.
In a match where Manchester United had taken the lead through Patrick Dorgu, with the game finishing 1-0, Luke Shaw was waiting to take a throw-in when the stoppage occurred. Additionally, in March, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler criticised David Raya for what appeared to be a tactical timeout.
English football authorities will continue to monitor the effectiveness of this trial throughout the season, in collaboration with IFAB and other stakeholders, to ensure it supports game flow while maintaining player welfare standards. This new measure builds on previous efforts to increase ball-in-play time and reduce unnecessary delays, such as the goalkeeper eight-second rule implemented last season.
Alongside this, a five-second countdown will be used from the 2026-27 season to manage time when players unfairly delay throw-ins or goal kicks. Furthermore, a ten-second time limit for players leaving the pitch when substituted will be in effect across the professional game from the first whistle of the forthcoming Carabao Cup campaign on Saturday 1 August.
Source: liverpoolfc.com
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Charlie Bradshaw is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with ten years of reporting experience. He covered Merseyside football before going national. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Liverpool John Moores University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Liverpool, he watches non-league sides and collects old match programmes. “The back page is only ever half the story.”