FIFA has introduced a new refereeing directive for the 2026 World Cup that will stop outfield players from leaving the pitch to receive instructions from coaches whenever a goalkeeper is undergoing treatment.
The measure is designed to eliminate what has become known as “goalkeeper tactical timeouts,” where teams take advantage of injury stoppages to regroup, receive tactical guidance, or interrupt the rhythm of the game.
Under the revised procedure, players will no longer be permitted to gather around their technical areas while a goalkeeper is being attended to. Instead, they must remain on the field until play resumes.
Speaking on Sunday ahead of the tournament, FIFA referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina revealed that coaches from all 48 participating nations had already been informed that match officials would strictly apply the rule.
“We had a workshop with all the coaches of all the 48 teams, and we told them that referees will be proactive. 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,” he added.
The practice has drawn criticism in recent seasons, with several managers suggesting that some teams deliberately use goalkeeper injury stoppages as a tactical tool.
In November, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke accused goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of using an injury break to disrupt the flow of the match and allow his side time to reorganise.
Although FIFA hopes the new restriction will prevent coaching huddles during such stoppages, questions remain over whether teams could still exploit injury breaks to slow the tempo of games or halt opponents’ momentum.
Collina said referees would be expected to manage the situation sensibly, stressing that players approaching the technical area would not automatically be sanctioned.
“It’s quite weird that there really is only the referee, the physio and the goalkeeper on the field of play,” Collina said. “All the other players leave the pitch, and it is not good.”
How effective the rule proves to be will become clearer during the tournament, especially as matches will also include three-minute hydration intervals in each half, offering coaches another opportunity to communicate with players.
In a separate development, the International Football Association Board has approved an adjustment to VAR regulations, allowing video officials to review certain attacking fouls that occur before the ball comes into play, adding another officiating change ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
