The Premier League, along with the English Football League, the Women's Super League, and the Football Association, has agreed to trial a new rule aimed at preventing goalkeepers from using tactical timeouts, according to multiple reports including Sports Illustrated and Sky Sports.
The proposed change would restrict how long a goalkeeper can hold the ball, effectively eliminating what has been described as a "tactical timeout" during matches. Sports Illustrated reports that the rule is set to be tested during the 2026–27 Premier League season.
The BBC notes that English football has formally agreed to the trial, which is designed to combat time-wasting tactics. The Lancashire Telegraph adds that Championship clubs, including Blackburn Rovers, will be subject to the new anti-timewasting measures as part of the trial.
Sky Sports reports that the agreement covers the Premier League, EFL, WSL, and FA, marking a coordinated effort across English football to speed up play. The Vanguard News also confirms that the trial will target goalkeeper tactical timeouts specifically.
The exact details of how the rule will work in practice have not been fully disclosed, but the trial represents a significant shift in how goalkeepers manage the ball during matches.
Observers will be watching to see how the rule is enforced and whether it achieves its goal of reducing deliberate delays in play.
