Leeds United: What the EFL rule-book says about the emergency goalkeeper loan clause

THE EFL rule book states that clubs are entitled to operate the emergency goalkeeper loan clause if 'all the professional goalkeepers at a club are unavailable as a result of being injured, suspended or called up for international duty.
IN THE FRAME: Will Huffer.IN THE FRAME: Will Huffer.
IN THE FRAME: Will Huffer.

Leeds United are facing up to the prospect of being without both 'first-team' keepers Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Jamal Blackman for this weekend's Championship clash against Bristol City at Elland Road with former Chelsea loanee Blackman back at Stamford Bridge having broken his leg.

Peacock-Farrell then picked up a knee injury in training leaving Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa to reveal that one of rookie 'keepers Will Huffer and Kamil Miazek were now likely to start in Saturday's clash against The Robins.

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The injuries to Peacock-Farrell and Blackman have now opened the possibility of Leeds being able to sign another goalkeeper on an emergency loan.

And according to the EFL rules and regulations at least, that possibility could depend on whether or not Huffer in particular was viewed as a 'professional goalkeeper.'

Huffer has yet to play for United but Leeds announced in December 2017 that Huffer had signed professional terms with the club, initially signing terms until June 2018, with the club holding the option to extend the deal by a further 12 months.

Rules previously stated that clubs were permitted to sign a goalkeeper on a seven-day ‘emergency loan’ basis if they do not have a senior goalkeeper that has made five first-team appearances.

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Point 57.1 of the current EFL's rules and regulations state that the emergency goalkeeper loan option can be explored if:

'all the Professional Goalkeepers at a Club are unavailable as a result of having been...certified by an independent medical practitioner as being unfit to play; suspended; or called up to play for his national association representative matches in accordance with the requirements of FIFA as laid down from time to time.

A club may register (either before or after the deadlines laid down in Regulations 43.2 and 43.3), a further goalkeeper on a short term basis.

The rules add that the documentation must be supplied by 12 noon on the day of the match; or at least three hours before the match - whichever is the earlier.

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The period of any Emergency Goalkeeper Loan shall be for a period of seven days, inclusive of the starting date and finishing date and may be renewed for seven days at a time,.

There is no suggestion within the rule book that the loan cannot be made from a Premier League side but the YEP has since discovered that a Championship club cannot sign an emergency loan goalkeeper from the Premier League as the Premier League does not allow it.

Leeds then, appear to be looking at the prospect of making an emergency loan from a club in the EFL, signing a free agent or going with Huffer or Miazek against the Robins.

The full rules can be viewed here

https://www.efl.com/-more/governance/efl-rules--regulations/section-6---players/