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English football is heading for a major rule change after getting the go-ahead to test a new law designed to cut down on tactical time-wasting. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved a proposal that will require a team to temporarily play without one outfield player if its goalkeeper needs medical treatment.

Crackdown on tactical timeouts

In a statement issued by the FA, the Football Association, Premier League, EFL and Women’s Super League have come together to close the “tactical timeout” loophole that has annoyed both supporters and coaches. Under the trial, if a match is stopped because of a goalkeeper injury, the head coach must choose an outfield player who will have to leave the pitch for at least one minute after play resumes.

This move comes after several high-profile cases in which goalkeepers were accused of pretending to have problems in order to disrupt an opponent’s rhythm. Last season, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke famously accused Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to stretch the rules.

Specific trial rules and exemptions

The trial will be applied strictly across the top levels of English football, although it will not be used below National League Step 2 in the men’s game. To handle the change, coaches will have only a 10-second window to decide which player must leave the field.

Importantly, some safeguards will stay in place to protect player welfare. There are clear exceptions to the rule, including cases where a goalkeeper is bleeding or has been injured in a collision with an outfield player. Also, if a free kick is given for a foul on the goalkeeper and the keeper needs immediate medical attention, the team will not be punished by having to lose a player temporarily.

New time management protocols

Along with the goalkeeper trial, English football is bringing in further measures to increase ball-in-play time for the 2026-27 season. Referees will now use a five-second countdown as a management tool if players are judged to be unfairly delaying goal kicks or throw-ins.

Officials are also targeting the slow walk-off by substituted players, which has long frustrated teams that are chasing the game. From the new season, a strict 10-second limit will apply to players leaving the pitch during a substitution. This rule will be in force from the first whistle of the new campaign, beginning with the Carabao Cup on Saturday 1 August.

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Global impact and welfare concerns

The English trial is part of a wider global effort to reshape the laws of the game, with the Australian A-League also examining versions of these time-management rules. While the FA and Premier League are committed to the trial, some stakeholders have raised concerns about player safety.

Even with those concerns, the governing bodies feel the current pattern of tactical stoppages cannot continue. English authorities will work closely with IFAB throughout the 2026-27 season to assess whether the trial can work in the long term. By taking away the incentive for teams to “fake” injuries, the aim is to make the beautiful game quicker, fairer and less broken up by touchline gamesmanship.