Debate Grows Over Goalkeeper ‘Tactical Timeouts’ in Football
So, there’s a growing debate in football right now, and it’s all centered around something that’s becoming known as the “tactical timeout” — a moment when a goalkeeper goes down injured, or at least appears to, giving the coach a chance to deliver fresh instructions. And according to football’s lawmakers, this loophole might finally be closed.
The issue really came into the spotlight after Leeds United manager Daniel Farke accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of going down with what he called a “fake injury” during their recent match at the Etihad. City were leading 2-1 at the time, but Leeds were pushing hard, and momentum had clearly shifted. Then Donnarumma signaled for treatment, play was stopped, and Pep Guardiola instantly gathered his players for a two-minute tactical briefing. By the time the match resumed, City had regained control and eventually won 3-2.
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Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Until last season, outfield players often went down to slow the game and create these little strategy windows. But the rule was tightened: if an outfield player receives treatment, they must leave the pitch for 30 seconds. Naturally, teams adjusted. The “injury” simply moved from outfield players to the one person who can’t be forced to step off — the goalkeeper.
Football’s rule-makers at Ifab discussed the issue in October, and one idea gained traction: if a goalkeeper needs treatment, another player from the same team would temporarily be required to leave the field instead. That would bring goalkeepers in line with everyone else and remove the advantage created by the stoppage. There was also talk about blocking all players from approaching the touchline during these breaks, which would further limit mid-game coaching huddles.
Of course, everyone accepts that goalkeepers can be genuinely hurt — they take heavy impacts. But the rise of these conveniently timed stoppages is turning heads. Farke didn’t hide his frustration, even if he admitted that the tactic is technically within the rules. His point was simple: if the laws allow it, managers will use it. And that’s exactly why the laws may need to evolve.
Even at lower levels, the trick has become common. Bolton manager Steven Schumacher openly said it happens “in every game now,” even in the Champions League. That’s how widespread it’s become — a small wrinkle in the rules that coaches everywhere are exploiting.
The matter will be formally discussed again at Ifab’s business meeting on 20 January, and support is building for change. Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy even said it could be fixed “really quickly” by simply having an outfield player leave whenever a keeper gets treatment.
Whether this tweak happens or not, it’s clear the conversation isn’t going away. The question is no longer whether teams use the loophole — it’s how soon football will move to close it.
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