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League: EPLSport: SoccerCountry: EnglandCategory: Injuries

English football trials rule to eliminate goalkeeper tactical timeouts

Yahoo Sports • 2 min read • Latest: Jul 27, 2026, 1:22 PM

Last updated Jul 27, 2026

English football trials rule to eliminate goalkeeper tactical timeouts
Summary

English football will trial a new rule to eliminate goalkeeper tactical timeouts, starting with the Carabao Cup preliminary round on August 1. Teams must now remove an outfield player for a minute if a goalkeeper requires treatment. This measure aims to prevent disruptions that allow teams to regroup during matches. The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, National League, and Women's Super League have all agreed to this trial, pending approval from the International Football Association Board. Discussion around this rule comes as recent instances of goalkeepers feigning injury to halt play have sparked controversy.

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Yahoo SportsThe Guardian SportBBC SportSky Sports Football
Status Watch
  • •Trial starts August 1 in Carabao Cup match between Tranmere and Rochdale.
  • •Coaches have 10 seconds to nominate an outfield player to leave if a goalkeeper is treated.
  • •Captains must leave the pitch if a choice is not made in time.
  • •This rule aims to deter teams from using goalkeepers to break up play strategically.
  • •Similar trials will occur in the Australian A-League with different stipulations.
Latest Updates
  • 6:00 AMYahoo Sports — English football set for key goalkeeper trial
  • 7:07 PMThe Guardian Sport — Trial to be introduced in bid to prevent goalkeeper tactical time-outs
  • 4:31 PMYahoo Sports — Premier League, WSL, EFL to implement trial designed to stop ‘goalkeeper timeouts’
  • 1:22 PMYahoo Sports — Trial looks to end goalkeeper tactical timeouts
  • 1:22 PMBBC Sport — English football agrees trial to end goalkeeper tactical timeouts
What they're saying
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Global football’s law-making body has approved a trial of a measure intended to stamp out the tactic of goalkeepers allegedly feigning injury. English football will implement the trial immediately, which means from next month whenever the referee gives permission for a physio to treat a goalkeeper, that team’s manager must nominate an outfield player to leave the field for one minute. The Zurich-based International Football Association Board (IFAB) has actually approved two variations of the tri

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Measures planned to run throughout 2026-27 season Ifab yet to give permission for proposed rule change English football will introduce a trial this season in a bid to end the goalkeeper tactical time-out. The trial – backed collectively by Pro Ref, the Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, Women’s Super League and the National League – aims to prevent goalkeeper injuries used to disrupt momentum and allow opportunities for tactical instruction. Continue reading...

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English football is set to implement a trial to try to eradicate the goalkeeper tactical timeout this season, BBC Sport can reveal. The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, National League and Women's Super League have agreed on the measure, pending permission from the International Football Association Board (Ifab).

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