Trial approved to stop goalkeeper tactical timeouts this season*

There is a new rule coming to the Premier League for the 2026/27 season.

A statement from Pro Ref, the organisation that manages the Premier League match officials, has said: "English football has received approval from the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to introduce a new goalkeeper injury trial for the 2026/27 season as part of its ongoing commitment to maintaining the pace and flow of matches.  

 

"The trial, championed collectively by Pro Ref, The FA, Premier League, EFL, WSL Football and the National League, will be implemented across the men's and women's professional game in England and is designed to address occasions where goalkeeper injuries have been used to disrupt momentum, slow the game down or create opportunities for tactical instruction."

Under the trial, if the game is stopped for a goalkeeper injury, one of the ‘keeper’s team-mates will have to leave the pitch for at least one minute of play.

Why has the trial been introduced?

There have been times when a goalkeeper has sat down and signalled for the physio, and his team have used the break as a competitive advantage.

The aim could be to waste time, or to slow down an opponent's momentum, or to enable all the outfield players to go to the technical area and get tactical instructions from their manager. The goalkeeper then gets back up and carries on.

The aim of the trial is to ensure genuine injuries continue to receive appropriate medical attention while removing any potential sporting advantage.