FIFA has announced a new rule for the 2026 World Cup that will prevent players from leaving the field to receive instructions from coaches when a goalkeeper is being treated for an injury.
The measure, revealed by FIFA’s refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina, is designed to stop teams from using goalkeeper injury stoppages as unofficial tactical timeouts to regroup, receive coaching instructions, or disrupt opponents’ momentum.
Under the new directive, referees will ensure that outfield players remain on the pitch while a goalkeeper receives medical attention, rather than gathering around their technical areas.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Collina said FIFA had already briefed coaches from all 48 participating nations on the enforcement of the rule.
“We had a workshop with all the coaches of all the 48 teams, and we told them that referees will be proactive,” Collina said.
“They will not allow the two teams to go to the benches when a goalkeeper is lying on the ground injured.
“The goalkeeper has the right to be injured, but the players do not have the right to leave the field of play to have a sort of timeout with their respective coaches.”
The practice of using goalkeeper injury stoppages for tactical discussions has drawn criticism in recent years. Some managers have accused opponents of exploiting such breaks to slow matches and break the rhythm of the game.
In November, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke alleged that goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma used an injury stoppage to help his team regroup and interrupt the flow of play.
Collina acknowledged that the new rule would not entirely eliminate concerns about teams using stoppages to manage the tempo of matches but insisted that players should remain on the field during treatment periods.
“It’s quite weird that there really is only the referee, the physio and the goalkeeper on the field of play,” he said. “All the other players leave the pitch, and it is not good.”
The effectiveness of the measure could be tested by other planned stoppages during the tournament. Matches at the expanded 2026 World Cup will include three-minute hydration breaks in each half, giving coaches another opportunity to communicate with players.
In a separate officiating development, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved a change to Video Assistant Referee (VAR) protocols. The amendment will allow reviews of certain attacking fouls committed before the ball is put into play, marking another significant refereeing adjustment ahead of football’s biggest tournament.
