English Football May Trial New Goalkeeper Injury Rule

How the proposed rule works

The measure would require an outfield player to leave the pitch temporarily after a goalkeeper receives treatment.

• Managers would have 10 seconds to nominate the player.
• That player would remain off the pitch for one minute after play restarts.
• If no nomination is made, the captain would leave instead.

If the goalkeeper is captain, an outfield player nominated before kick-off would speak to the referee. The system is designed to close a loophole: outfield players already face a 60-second delay after treatment, while goalkeepers can currently return immediately.

A deterrent, not a punishment

There would be clear exceptions. The rule would not apply if the goalkeeper declines treatment, has been fouled, is bleeding, suffers a collision, or requires a substitution or concussion assessment.

That distinction will matter. Nobody wants a genuine injury treated as a disciplinary issue, but officials have also faced growing suspicion that stoppages can be used to slow matches or deliver an extra tactical briefing.

Farke’s broader solution is education. “We should think about how we can deal with it, and also how we educate it,” he said.

The trial is expected to cover the Premier League, Women’s Super League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, EFL and National League. It would not apply in the Champions League, while Europe’s major domestic leagues have not volunteered.

If approved, Arsenal’s home fixture against promoted Coventry City on Friday, 21 August could be the Premier League’s first test. The reaction from goalkeepers, managers and referees may determine whether this temporary experiment becomes football’s new normal.