Law change considered for keeper tactical timeouts

Football’s lawmakers are considering a move to make teams use a loophole to create a “tactical timeout” by temporarily removing an outfield player if a goalkeeper is injured.

Gianluigi Donnarumma allegedly feigned injury to “bend the rules” on Saturday, according to Leeds United manager Daniel Farke, so coach Pep Guardiola could receive fresh instructions.

Leeds were in the ascendancy at the time despite City’s 3-2 victory. According to Leeds, City is the most recent to repress the pitch with a more common tactic.

In an effort to prevent this timeout, outfield players used to go down injured, but they were told to stay off the field for 30 seconds starting in the 2023/24 season.

Since goalkeepers cannot be forced to leave the pitch after receiving treatment, the tactic has since changed.

Diverse ways to improve the flow of play and cut down on interruptions were discussed at a meeting of the Football and Technical Advisory Panels of the International Football Association Board in October.

It was extensively discussed in relation to the use of a rumored goalkeeper injury so the coach could speak with players.

The idea that the team must nominate another player to go off for 30 seconds in their place, in accordance with the rules for other players, was supported.

The idea that goalkeepers can frequently actually get hurt was accepted.

On January 20th, Ifab’s annual business meeting will discuss the issue further, and the need to replace an outfield player is gaining more and more support.

Danny Murphy, a Match of the Day commentator, suggested that lawmakers could take action to close the loophole in this specific way.

Murphy said, “I believe they can really change it.”

“It’s fair all the way down if one of the outfield players should go off if a keeper goes down injured, rather than him having to go off,” said one of the outfielders. A little bit of change can make a huge difference.

Donnarumma fell ill just before the hour mark, allowing Guardiola to call the touchline and issue new instructions while the game was being played.

Farke said, “Everyone understands why he went down.”

The room is not the elephant in the room,” he said. It was obvious why he turned around. The regulations apply. It is intelligent. If it appeals to me. If it falls under the fair play category, then what? I’ll keep to myself if it should be this way. The authorities are in charge of finding a solution.

If you want to do something, I ask the fourth official at this point. Our hands are tying.

It is not what I like to do personally if we don’t teach our players in football what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship, and if we only try to break the rules and even fake an injury to add to the team talk. However, I am unable to file a complaint if it is within the rules.

The authorities must come up with a solution, they say. Does it refer to fair play or the game? I would be skeptical.

Steven Schumacher, the manager of Bolton Wanderers, made it clear that the game was being played at all levels earlier this year.

When the opposition is in control, Schumacher said, “It’s a ploy, a tactic that kills the momentum of the game and there’s a chance to get your team in.”

A player who has been evaluated and/or has received treatment on the pitch must then leave, except when: