Premier League outlines trial to curb goalkeeper injury tactic and speed up games | OneFootball

Sunderland fans will see new measures when the Premier League returns next month, led by a goalkeeper injury trial for 2026/27. If a keeper needs physio treatment, a nominated outfielder must spend one minute off after play restarts.

The Premier League said in a statement that IFAB has approved the trial, which aims to preserve the pace and flow of games. It will run across the men's and women's professional game in England.

The change follows a rise over the last two seasons in keepers seeking treatment to slow play or take instructions, as goalkeepers did not have to leave the pitch. Exceptions cover immediate treatment after a foul, bleeding, or collisions with an opponent.

The trial will be assessed across the season before any move to make it permanent. Further steps include a five-second countdown for delayed set plays and a 10-second limit for substituted players to leave the pitch, both used at the World Cup.

A new hair-pulling threshold follows last season’s controversies, including Sunderland’s Dan Ballard. Yellow will be shown if the action lacks excessive force or brutality. Red applies only to a clear, deliberate hair pull with excessive force or brutality.

Referees will persist with a less is more approach on handball, and clamp down on holding at set plays and on blocks that impede a keeper. VAR can review when a second yellow leads to a red, but not potential second yellows, and its scope will not expand to errors such as wrongly awarded corners.

Source: Sunderland Echo