Major Football Shake-Up: IFAB Greenlights Goalkeeper Time-Wasting Trial!
English football leagues will trial a new IFAB-approved rule starting August 1 to prevent tactical goalkeeper injuries from disrupting games. Coaches must nominate an outfield player to leave the pitch for at least one minute during a goalkeeper injury stoppage, aiming to maintain momentum and reduce delays.
English football's professional leagues are set to trial a significant new rule aimed at curbing tactical delays caused by goalkeeper injuries. This initiative, approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) for the 2026-27 campaign, will commence its trial phase with the Carabao Cup on August 1, extending across all professional men’s and women’s leagues in England.
The core of the new rule mandates that whenever play is stopped due to a goalkeeper injury, coaches must nominate one outfield player from their team to temporarily leave the pitch for a minimum of one minute. This measure is specifically designed to counteract the perceived misuse of injury stoppages by goalkeepers to "disrupt momentum, slow the game down or create opportunities for tactical instruction," as stated by the Football Association.
In addition to the nominated-player rule, the trial introduces further time-saving mechanisms. These include a strict five-second countdown for restarts following a stoppage and a limitation on substitution exits, which must now be completed within 10 seconds. These ancillary rules collectively aim to enhance game flow and reduce unnecessary delays.
Crucially, the rule includes specific exceptions to ensure player welfare is not compromised. Goalkeepers will not trigger the outfield player removal if they are fouled and require treatment, if their injury results from a collision with an outfield player, or if they are bleeding. These exceptions highlight a balanced approach to maintaining game pace while protecting players.
The decision to implement this trial follows several high-profile incidents, such as Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler's criticism of Arsenal’s David Raya for receiving treatment multiple times during a crucial title-race victory. The nominated-player approach was specifically chosen after comprehensive discussions between Pro Ref, the professional refereeing body, the FA, and the various leagues. Furthermore, in a related effort to streamline play, FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina has already instructed officials at this summer’s tournaments to prevent players from approaching technical areas during treatment stoppages. The Football Association and IFAB will closely monitor the trial throughout the season to thoroughly assess its effectiveness on game flow and overall player welfare.