LONDON — The new Premier League season is set to trial a crackdown on goalkeepers who appear to feign injury in order to disturb the flow of the game or give time for coaches to instruct players.
The English Football Association on Monday said the move has been approved by global soccer’s rulemaking panel.
“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 FA said.
The trial “championed collectively” by Pro Ref, the FA, Premier League, English Football League, Women’s Super League Football and the National League, it said, “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.”
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The opening game of the Premier League season will see Arsenal begin its title defense at home against newly promoted Coventry on Aug. 21.
Count to 10 Under the trial, if a game is stopped because of a goalkeeper injury, the FA said the head coach “will be required to nominate an outfield player to leave the pitch immediately. The nominated player is required to remain off the field for a minimum of one minute after the restart of play.”
Domestic media reports said if the coach fails to nominate a player within 10 seconds of the referee indicating the goalkeeper can receive medical treatment on the field, the captain of the goalkeeper’s team will automatically be the chosen player.
Exceptions include collisions and bleeding The FA said the trial “will operate with a number of exceptions, including where a free kick is awarded for a foul on the goalkeeper and they immediately require treatment, the goalkeeper and an outfield player have collided and need attention, or the goalkeeper is bleeding.”
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“The aim is to ensure genuine injuries continue to receive appropriate medical attention while removing any potential sporting advantage associated with stoppages,” a joint statement read.
The BBC said the first game to include the trial will be the English League Cup match between Tranmere and Rochdale on Saturday.
Last season the goalkeeper eight-second rule was introduced, punishing a goalkeeper for holding the ball for that length of time with the award of a corner to the opposition.
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That rule change was deemed a success and, working alongside that this season, a five-second countdown will be used by match officials where players have delayed the taking of a throw-in or goal-kick.
Players will also be given 10 seconds to leave the pitch when substituted, and this will come into operation from the start of the Carabao Cup on Aug. 1.
Information from PA and The Associated Press was used in this report.
