The governing bodies that oversee the upper tiers of English football are preparing to introduce a pilot scheme next season that seeks to eliminate the practice of goalkeepers deliberately stopping play to gain a tactical edge. The proposal has been endorsed by the Premier League, the English Football League (EFL), the Football Association (FA), the National League, the Women’s Super League (WSL) and the Professional Referees Association (Pro Ref), all of which have secured approval from the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to move forward with the experiment.
The problem under scrutiny is the so‑called "goalkeeper timeout" – a situation where a keeper pretends to be injured, prompting the referee to pause the match, call on the medical team, and give the defending side a chance to reorganise, exchange information or simply waste precious seconds. Critics argue that this behaviour disrupts the natural flow of the game and can unfairly benefit a team that is under pressure. After a series of consultations, the participating organisations have agreed on a concrete counter‑measure: the removal of an outfield player for a brief period whenever a goalkeeper is attended to for a non‑genuine injury.
Under the new protocol, if the referee determines that a physiotherapist may approach the goalkeeper, the head coach will have a ten‑second window to designate one outfield player who must leave the pitch. The selected player will be required to stay off the field for a minimum of one minute after play resumes. Should the coach fail to name a player within the allotted ten seconds, the team captain will be forced to exit the field instead. This penalty is intended to create a tangible cost for any attempt to exploit the medical stoppage, thereby discouraging goalkeepers from feigning injury.
The primary objective of the trial is twofold. First, it aims to preserve the integrity of genuine medical treatment – real injuries will still receive prompt attention from qualified staff. Second, it seeks to remove any competitive advantage that can be derived from artificially extending stoppages, ensuring that the rhythm of the match remains as uninterrupted as possible.
By imposing a short‑term numerical disadvantage, the rule hopes to make teams think twice before encouraging a keeper to simulate an ailment. The experiment will be monitored throughout the season by the same bodies that devised it, in partnership with IFAB and other relevant stakeholders. Data on match flow, the frequency of goalkeeper stoppages, and any unintended consequences will be collected and analysed. The findings will inform whether the rule should be refined, adopted permanently, or discarded.
The pilot may make its debut in the Carabao Cup preliminary round, offering a high‑stakes environment in which to test its impact. The timing is significant because cup matches often feature intense tactical battles, and any loophole that allows a side to disrupt momentum can be decisive.
The issue has already sparked public debate. In November, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke publicly accused Manchester City’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" and break up play. Later, in December, former England defender and pundit Gary Neville suggested that Newcastle United’s Aaron Ramsdale deliberately went to ground after receiving instructions from midfielder Lewis Hall, who in turn was acting on directions from Magpies boss Eddie Howe.
Neville speculated that the instruction was a deliberate attempt to halt the game, noting, "I am being a little cynical, I might be proven completely wrong, but I think Eddie Howe told Lewis Hall to tell Aaron Ramsdale to go down." Neville’s theory was prompted by a specific incident in a match against Manchester United, where United were poised to take a throw‑in in the eighth minute when play was stopped. The commentary highlighted the possibility of a coordinated effort to disrupt United’s momentum, especially after United had taken the lead through Patrick Dorgu, eventually winning the match 1‑0. More recently, in March, Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi (often mistakenly referred to as Fabian Hurzeler) criticised his own goalkeeper David Raya for appearing to take a tactical timeout, adding to the chorus of voices calling for stricter enforcement. Supporters of the trial argue that the rule will reinforce the principle that football should be decided by skill and strategy, not by exploiting medical stoppages.
Opponents, however, worry that forcing a player off the field could create new safety concerns, especially if a team is forced to play with fewer players during a genuine injury situation. The English football authorities have emphasised that the trial will be evaluated with a focus on player welfare, game flow, and fairness.
If the data shows that the measure successfully reduces artificial delays without compromising medical care, it could become a permanent fixture in the Laws of the Game. Fans can follow the development of the trial through official club communications, league bulletins, and coverage on the Sky Sports platform. For those without a Sky subscription, instant access options without a contract are available, and the Sky Sports app can be downloaded for live updates.
Overall, the initiative represents a proactive attempt by English football to address a long‑standing grievance, balancing the need for legitimate medical treatment with the desire to keep matches moving swiftly and competitively.