The Growing Controversy Around Goalkeeper Treatment Tactics
The sight of a goalkeeper signaling for treatment, prompting a tactical huddle for their outfield teammates, has become a common and often controversial aspect of modern football. This practice has sparked debates among fans, players, and officials alike. A recent incident involving Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez during an FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United highlighted this issue, as Leeds fans openly booed what they perceived as a tactical move. In response, football’s governing bodies are now taking decisive steps to address the problem.
The International Football Association Board (Ifab) has been examining this issue for several years, including extensive discussions in technical meetings last October. While no immediate law changes will be implemented for the upcoming season, Ifab plans to offer leagues the opportunity to conduct trials aimed at eliminating these tactical stoppages.
Evolving Tactics and the Referee’s Dilemma
The practice of feigning injury to halt play for tactical reasons is not new. However, its focus has shifted over time. In the past, outfield players were the primary culprits. English football attempted to combat this by requiring any player receiving treatment to leave the field for 30 seconds. This led managers to adapt, instructing goalkeepers to ask for treatment, exploiting the fact that a team cannot play without a goalkeeper, thus circumventing the 30-second rule and preventing play from restarting without them.
Referees have found themselves powerless to prevent these stoppages. They cannot accuse a player of faking an injury due to the potential serious repercussions if the injury is genuine. This dilemma has allowed the tactic to flourish, with incidents such as Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma going down in November when Leeds were in the ascendancy at Etihad Stadium. Leeds manager Daniel Farke accused Donnarumma of feigning injury to “bend the rules” and break up play, according to BBC Sport.
This issue is prevalent across all levels of the game, including the women’s game, highlighting the need for a global solution.
Four Trial Models on the Table
Ifab has already introduced several law changes for next season to cover general delaying tactics, including time limits on goal-kicks, throw-ins, and substitutions. However, the goalkeeper issue requires a more specific approach. Leagues will be invited to hold trials throughout the 2026-27 season, with Ifab set to review the results in March next year. The Women’s Super League (WSL) has already volunteered to participate in the testing process.
Four distinct trial models have been proposed:
Trial one: If a goalkeeper requires treatment, another outfield player from their team must leave the field for one minute. Parallel trials may determine if this player should be the captain or selected by the manager.
Trial two: Should a goalkeeper need treatment, an outfield player has to leave the field for two minutes.
Trial three (NWSL model): If a goalkeeper is injured, players from both teams must remain in their positions when play stopped, or gather on their team’s side of the centre-circle. Approaching the technical area could result in league discipline for the team or coach. This rule does not apply if the injured goalkeeper is to be substituted before play restarts. The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the US and Canada already implemented this policy for its 2026 season last month.
Trial four (Hybrid model): Players are not permitted to go to the touchline, and an outfield player (either the captain or selected by the manager) must also leave the field for one minute.
From next season, general laws will stipulate that any player needing treatment must go off for one minute, but these specific goalkeeper trials aim to create a stronger deterrent for tactical stoppages.
The Path Forward
As football continues to evolve, so too must the rules that govern the game. The introduction of these trials represents a significant step towards addressing the growing concerns around tactical stoppages. By implementing these measures, football’s governing bodies hope to restore fairness and integrity to the sport while ensuring that the game remains exciting and competitive for all involved.
