Premier League trial to curb goalkeeper injury tactic, what Sunderland fans should expect

Sunderland fans will see new refereeing measures when the Premier League returns next month, led by a trial targeting goalkeeper-injury time-wasting. The initiative will be monitored through 2026/27 before any decision on making it permanent.

When a goalkeeper needs physio treatment, the head coach must nominate an outfield player to leave the pitch for one minute once play restarts. Exceptions apply if the keeper is fouled and needs immediate care, is bleeding, or collides with an opponent. The Premier League said in a statement that IFAB had approved a goalkeeper-injury trial for 2026/27 across the men’s and women’s professional game in England to maintain flow.

Other pace-of-play measures include a five-second countdown when a player is deemed to delay an opposition set play and a 10-second limit for substitutes to leave the field, both used at the recent World Cup.

New guidance on hair pulling raises the bar for violent conduct, with yellow when force or brutality is absent and red for clear, deliberate pulls with excessive force. Sunderland’s Dan Ballard saw red at Molineux last season, and how VAR would judge that under the new threshold remains unclear.

Referees will focus on penalising holding at set plays and be encouraged to punish challenges that impede a goalkeeper’s movement to the ball, while keeping a lighter touch on handball. VAR can now review a dismissal caused by a second yellow, but will not check potential second-yellow offences, and its remit will not widen to errors such as incorrect corners.

Source: Sunderland Echo