Goalkeepers Have Just Been Put On Notice…English Football Is Preparing To Test A Controversial New Rule Designed To Crack Down On One Of The Game’s Most Frustrating Tactics—And It Could Change Matches Almost Overnight. The Experiment Targets Goalkeepers Who Deliberately Slow The Game, With Officials Ready To Step In The Moment The Clock Becomes Part Of The Strategy. But It’s The Unexpected Punishment Being Considered—Not The Rule Itself—That Has Already Divided Players, Managers And Fans Before A Single Whistle Is Blown.

Football fans have grown tired with opposition goalkeepers going down supposedly injured and forcing the referee to pause the game, but lawmakers are attempting to stamp it out

A new law which aims to prevent goalkeepers feigning injury and forcing a tactical timeout could be trialed in English football as soon as this weekend. The much-maligned timeouts have become increasingly common in recent seasons, with keepers going down supposedly injured and giving the referee no choice but to stop the game as per the current rulebook.

A physio would then enter the field and treat the goalkeeper before the match restarts at a different phase, stopping the flow of the game while allowing players to speak with their coaches during the break in play. This isn’t the case for when an outfielder receives treatment, as they have to wait on the sidelines after the play has restarted until the referee signals that they can return.

But the new law will change that. According to BBC Sport, if a referee signals that the physio can come on to treat a goalkeeper, the team’s manager must nominate an outfielder to leave the pitch for one minute. If the manager doesn’t choose a player within 10 seconds, the team’s captain will automatically be selected.

The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, National League and Women’s Super League have all agreed on the law. First, though, permission is needed from the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

IFAB decided against changing the law earlier this year and instead invited leagues to volunteer for trials. Should they give the green light in England, the law could be seen in action for the first time during Saturday’s Carabao Cup preliminary round tie between Tranmere Rovers and Rochdale at Prenton Park.

In November, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury in order to ‘bend the rules’ during their clash at the Etihad Stadium. “Everyone knows why he went down,” Farke claimed post-match.

“It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is smart. If I like it? If it’s within the sense of fair play?

“If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the authorities to find a solution. I ask the fourth official at this point if you want to do something. Our hands are tied.

“If we don’t educate our players in football what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just try to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like personally. But if it is within the rules I can’t complain.”