New Rule Introduced Following Allegations Against Leeds Coach

The governing bodies of British football are considering changes to the rules following accusations from Daniel Farke, the Leeds United manager, against Manchester City. After City’s 3-2 win over Leeds, Farke criticized what he saw as tactics that allowed Pep Guardiola to “get around the rules” during Gianluigi Donnarumma’s injury. Currently, field players must leave the pitch for 30 seconds if they require treatment, but this rule does not apply to goalkeepers. The BBC reports that a proposal is under consideration: if a goalkeeper goes down, a field player would temporarily leave the game to balance the situation and prevent any tactical advantage. Another idea being explored is to restrict players from approaching the sideline during medical interventions on the goalkeeper, which is gaining support within the organizations.

Daniel Farke was very critical after the match, stating: “Everyone knows why he went down, right? You can simulate an injury to buy more time for team talks. But is that really in the spirit of fair play? I highly doubt it.” He also pointed out that the fourth official was powerless in this situation. Former Liverpool player Danny Murphy praised the initiative: “If a goalkeeper is injured, instead of taking him off, a field player should leave the pitch; it would be fairer for everyone. It’s a small change that makes a big difference.” This potential reform could alter teams’ tactical approaches and enhance respect for the spirit of the game.