English FA trial forces field player to leave for a minute

Het Engels professional football scene has long seen teams exploit goalkeeper injury stoppages to disrupt play, but the FA’s new trial forces a contrasting approach: a trainer must immediately name a field player to leave the pitch for at least one minute during such treatment.

According to the new rule, when a goalkeeper receives medical attention, the coach must designate a field player who must exit the field and may only re‑enter after a minimum of one minute of playing time.

The measure has been approved by the international rules body IFAB and will be applied in both the men’s and women’s games.

The rule targets previous abuses where teams used goalkeeper injuries to break the match rhythm, stretch the clock or convey tactical instructions.

The trial kicks off on Saturday with the first‑round fixtures of the League Cup.

De Engelse FA announced the introduction of the trial for this season, aiming to curb such manipulations.