English football will implement a trial this season aimed at eradicating the goalkeeper tactical timeout. The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, National League and Women's Super League have agreed to the measure, with permission from the International Football Association Board (Ifab).
The move follows discussions led by Pro Ref, under chief refereeing officer Howard Webb, to find a way to tackle the issue. The agreed solution is for a team to remove an outfield player from the pitch when a referee allows a goalkeeper to receive treatment.
If a referee signals that the physio can come on to treat a goalkeeper, that team's coach will have 10 seconds to nominate another player to leave the pitch for one minute after play has restarted, telling the fourth official of their choice. If no player has been selected within 10 seconds, the captain must leave the field.
The first match to use the trial will be the Carabao Cup preliminary round tie between Tranmere and Rochdale on Saturday.
understands that the Australian A-League will trial a variation in which the captain always has to leave the field.
The tactic of gaining a timeout while the goalkeeper is treated has become increasingly common and controversial in recent seasons. It has not been uncommon for a goalkeeper to sit on the turf and signal for the physio, with all the other players rushing to the technical area for a team talk. As soon as the coach has delivered their instructions, the keeper gets up to continue.
Goalkeeper treatment has also been used to disrupt the opposition's momentum when they are on top.
In November, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to
