Leeds United delight as major Premier League rule change confirmed for next season

Leeds United and their Premier League rivals will be part of a trial aiming to eradicate goalkeeper tactical timeouts for the upcoming season.

The issue was a regular point of frustration for Leeds fans and players, with opposition goalkeepers requesting on-pitch treatment while their teammates flocked to the dugout. Manchester City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma was the first to do it after Daniel Farke’s side fought back from 2-0 down to draw level at 2-2 - the Whites eventually lost 3-2.

Farke accused Donnarumma of feigning injury to ‘bend the rules’ but he was not the only one. Sunderland goalkeeper Melker Ellborg went down with a supposed injury during a 1-0 win at Elland Road while Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez was instructed to go down by his own teammate during their FA Cup semi-final victory over the Whites.

But from next season, measures will be in place to combat the issue. Should a goalkeeper require on-pitch treatment, their manager will have 10 seconds to nominate an outfield player to leave the pitch for at least one minute, informing the fourth official of their decision. If no decision is made inside 10 seconds, the captain will be removed.

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In a statement the FA said the new rule was ‘designed to address occasions where goalkeeper injuries have been used to disrupt momentum, slow the game down or create opportunities for tactical instruction.’ They added: “The aim is to ensure genuine injuries continue to receive appropriate medical attention while removing any potential sporting advantage associated with stoppages.

“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. English football will continue to monitor the trial throughout the season, alongside IFAB and other stakeholders, to assess its effectiveness in supporting game flow while maintaining the highest standards of player welfare.”

An attempt was made to keep players from heading to the dugout during a goalkeeper injury during this summer’s World Cup, but the new measures go one step further. Some other rule changes from the major tournament have also been introduced ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Match officials will be able to use a five-second countdown as a ‘time-management tool’ if players are deemed to be unfairly delaying the taking of a throw-in or goal kick. There will also be a 10 second countdown for a substituted player to leave the pitch, with failure to do so resulting in the incoming substitute’s introduction being delayed.