The 26/27 VAR / Refereeing Thread

Premier League, WSL, EFL to implement trial designed to stop ‘goalkeeper timeouts’​



Matt Slater
By Matt Slater
July 27, 2026 Updated 6:31 pm GMT+1

Global football’s law-making body has approved a trial of a measure intended to stamp out the tactic of goalkeepers allegedly feigning injury.
As first reported by the BBC, English football will implement the trial immediately, which means from next month whenever the referee gives permission for a physio to treat a goalkeeper, that team’s manager must nominate an outfield player to leave the field for one minute.
The Zurich-based International Football Association Board (IFAB) has actually approved two variations of the trial, with the English game choosing the nominated-player option, while leagues such as Australia’s A-League will test a version in which the captain always has to leave the field.
Under the version which will be used in the English Football League, FA competitions, the National League, the Premier League and Women’s Super League, the manager will have 10 seconds to tell the fourth official who they are choosing to take off, or the captain will be the one who is temporarily removed.
IFAB signalled its intention to eradicate these tactical timeouts at its last annual general meeting in February but said it would not approve any trials until after the World Cup.

In the meantime, FIFA’s refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina told officials at this summer’s tournament to stop players from going to the technical area whenever there was a stoppage for treatment.
English football’s professional refereeing body Pro Ref, which was formerly known as PGMOL, discussed both trial options with the FA and leagues before choosing the nominated-player approach.
In a statement on Monday, Pro Ref said: “As part of the trial, if the game is stopped for a goalkeeper injury, the manager / head coach will be required to nominate an outfield player to leave the pitch immediately. The nominated player is required to remain off the field for a minimum of one minute after the restart of play. 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.
“Furthermore, a 10-second time limit for players leaving the pitch when substituted will be in operation across the professional game from the first whistle of the forthcoming campaign in the Carabao Cup on Saturday 1st August.”

The spectacle of goalkeepers sitting on the turf, chatting to a physio while their team-mates get drinks and tactical advice from the manager, has become a feature of recent seasons. The tactic has also been used to disrupt the opposition’s momentum during the dying minutes of close games.

In November, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke accused Manchester City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma of faking an injury during the second half of their Premier League clash in order to give City boss Pep Guardiola a chance to speak to his players at a point in the match when Leeds had the upper hand.
Speaking to reporters after the match, which City won 3-2 thanks to a Phil Foden goal in stoppage time, Farke said: “Why he went down is obvious. It is within the rules. It is smart.

“If I like it? If it’s within the sense of fair play? If it should be like this? I will keep to myself. It is up to the authorities to find a solution.”

As part of the trial, officials will not stop players from going to the touchline while a goalkeeper is being treated but it is hoped that the prospect of playing with 10 players, particularly in the latter stages of a game, will deter teams from doing so unless the injury is genuine.

The logic behind the trial is that outfield players who are treated on the field must go off for one minute. Clearly, sending a goalkeeper to the sideline would be too great a disadvantage, but sending nobody has created a loophole for teams to exploit. This measure, if the trials are deemed to be successful, should close it.

There will, however, be exceptions to the need for an outfield player to go off for a minute.

For example, if the goalkeeper has collided with another player, has been fouled or there is any fear of a serious injury, including a concussion, no outfield player will be sent to the sideline.

If the trials are successful, the measure is likely to be added to the game’s laws in time for the 2027-28 season.
 
I support it 100%. The 'tactical' stoppages by teams using their goalkeepers to go down was getting beyond a joke. Team under the cosh, keeper goes down so manager can adjust the team. Team struggling, keeper goes down and team gets a drink break and a bit of adjustment. The keeper is the default player to go down with a mystery injury because they get no punishment for it.

This is exactly as i suggested it. Keeper goes down and pick an outfield player to spend 1 min on sideline. Therefore they now have to weigh up the consequences. I expect keepers going down for fake injuries will reduce dramatically.
 
Littlest Hobo said:
I support it 100%. The 'tactical' stoppages by teams using their goalkeepers to go down was getting beyond a joke. Team under the cosh, keeper goes down so manager can adjust the team. Team struggling, keeper goes down and team gets a drink break and a bit of adjustment. The keeper is the default player to go down with a mystery injury because they get no punishment for it.

This is exactly as i suggested it. Keeper goes down and pick an outfield player to spend 1 min on sideline. Therefore they now have to weigh up the consequences. I expect keepers going down for fake injuries will reduce dramatically.
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I get it but how we will ever know if they are faking it, even if a team is under the cosh there's no way of knowing for sure, it could be genuine.

What if for example a team is on top with 10 mins to go and their keeper goes down injured, they then have to take a player off? Makes no sense to me. Or is it only against teams that are losing/holding on? Maybe I didn't read it properly.
 
It happens so much now in women's game that it has become beyond a joke ... the top 4 started it ibh but moreover by Skinner at ManU and why I call it "Skinner's law" ... I have to admit we started doing it to counteract. Ruins the game like the drink stops are now doing.

he almost did it on par to stop the flow of the game against his team or when he was likely to lose a goal

Bit like Randucantdo in Tennis "fein an injury to get a time out when she is losing"
 
ScottDaYid said:
I get it but how we will ever know if they are faking it, even if a team is under the cosh there's no way of knowing for sure, it could be genuine.

What if for example a team is on top with 10 mins to go and their keeper goes down injured, they then have to take a player off? Makes no sense to me. Or is it only against teams that are losing/holding on? Maybe I didn't read it properly.
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Why would a team that is on top get the keeper to feign injury and pause the game? I have not witnessed that happening before.

You would have to be crazy to want a break in play whilst dominating a game
 
Laws , Rules , Officials , .

The lack of competence behind referees and their total inabilty to control a game is getting worse .

Why are they frightened to carry out a basic task .

If they CAUTIONED the keeper AND the captain every time the keeper went down feigning injury , (and we all know what is going on ) this fiasco would stop overnight .

The club could appeal the decision and an investigation could take place .


I’m sure the physios are subject to the hypocritical oath ?????????


Or is that the Hippocratic Oath?
 
Littlest Hobo said:
Why would a team that is on top get the keeper to feign injury and pause the game? I have not witnessed that happening before.

You would have to be crazy to want a break in play whilst dominating a game
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planned tactics nowadays by the coaching team - it needs to be stopped for the sake of the game .... the WSL aso badly needs VAR as there is a lot of cheating going on now
 
I watched a NWSL game recently. A team scored, the ref pointed to the middle and the fans celebrated. But wait. The commentator said VAR were checking the goal. After five minutes of video replays (during which nobody in the stadium could identify any reason to disallow the goal) the ref was asked to view the screen. He stood in front of the screen for a couple of minutes …. and then disallowed the goal. Along with everyone else in the stadium I had no idea what his reason was and I don’t think he did either.

Here’s the thing. The ref’s first decision (to allow the goal) was correct. But for some reason whenever a ref is requested to view the replay his decision is usually overturned. The sense is that VAR are really officiating matches, not the on-field officials. So why did this ref do what VAR obviously wanted him to do? Have referees lost all confidence in their own ability? Is their officiating performed half-heartedly because they have given up and simply rely on VAR?

Before VAR intervention was possible officials made mistakes. Since VAR has been introduced officials still make mistakes …. but so does VAR. The main impact of VAR seems to be that far too many video screenings detract from the flow of the game and the fan’s enjoyment.

Every PL game I watch now leaves me yearning for the days of football past. I think the appropriate phrase is, ‘I’m too old for this shit!’ Just saying. ;)
 
Geofspurs said:
I watched a NWSL game recently. A team scored, the ref pointed to the middle and the fans celebrated. But wait. The commentator said VAR were checking the goal. After five minutes of video replays (during which nobody in the stadium could identify any reason to disallow the goal) the ref was asked to view the screen. He stood in front of the screen for a couple of minutes …. and then disallowed the goal. Along with everyone else in the stadium I had no idea what his reason was and I don’t think he did either.

Here’s the thing. The ref’s first decision (to allow the goal) was correct. But for some reason whenever a ref is requested to view the replay his decision is usually overturned. The sense is that VAR are really officiating matches, not the on-field officials. So why did this ref do what VAR obviously wanted him to do? Have referees lost all confidence in their own ability? Is their officiating performed half-heartedly because they have given up and simply rely on VAR?

Before VAR intervention was possible officials made mistakes. Since VAR has been introduced officials still make mistakes …. but so does VAR. The main impact of VAR seems to be that far too many video screenings detract from the flow of the game and the fan’s enjoyment.

Every PL game I watch now leaves me yearning for the days of football past. I think the appropriate phrase is, ‘I’m too old for this shit!’ Just saying. ;)
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Yep ... so true

Go back to the 60's
It was 2 goals on a poorly marked out pitch
11 came to the field in the formation 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 all numbererd 1-11 with no names as the kits never came with printed names - you just picked a colour coded kit from a book at the local supplier and u buy it. If u had the extra money u would even buy a sub shirt or 2 ... blanks. U were only allowed 2 subs in them days assuming u had 2 turn up if at all. We were lucky to get 11 turn up and usually one came 5 mins late and we started with 10. Smoked like a trooper but he still had the lungs to run and play the ball.
A ball as hard as nails dubbed in dubbing to save the outer layer cracking whist being played on a sea of mud .... the grass long gone and trodden into posterity.
No Ref turns up as usual so u as the Home manager has to do it yourself and u pick 2 linesmen, one from your own touchline clan (if there were any spectators) - the other from the opposition entourage. Many a time I had to play with no lines and ref as best one can.
We had no tactics bar the basics - u kick a ball into that goal ... THERE.
You are the Manager, the half time coach. the oranges errand boy, the Ref, the line judge, the person who recorded the game and sent it off to the league organisers. No mob phones, no instant photos, NO bl**dy VAR checking every move.
The morale of this and the common denominator was "we got it wrong, yes many a time" but we did our best on the day and stood by the result come what may.

these days are LONG gone .. but THAT WAS FOOTBALL
this is not football anymore .. to me it is a platform for those that play high rolling gambling run by blokes in suits that we never ever see. Thats their enjoyment ... all we fans do now is pick up the pieces they leave.

Welcome to GEN Z Dad, as my son's say ..... this is Gen Z football or soccer in some countries that cant spell it run by numerous Infant-ino's
 
TQ2Spurs said:
We need more officials like this excellent assistant referee, happy retirement and good luck in your new post.

www.bbc.co.uk

Assistant referee Sian Massey‑Ellis retires to take FA role

Assistant referee Sian Massey‑Ellis announces her retirement from officiating to take up a position with the Football Association.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
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Did she ever learn the offside Law ?




That is a joke !!!!!!!!! She got Keys the sack .

You are right TQ , we do need more like her ….,
 
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