Question Number: 35874

Other 1/25/2026

RE: Adult

Martin Wain of Bradford, United Kingdom asks...

In nearly every game I watch we have the charade of a goalkeeper - usually from a team that's a bit under the cosh, pretending he's picked up an injury such as a strain or cramp & just sitting on the floor to be attended to. We then have the further charade of a physio running on with his kitbag knowing full well there's no injury,whilst the referee stands over the pair of them - also knowing there's no injury. Meanwhile the rest of the team go for a chat in the dugout. The goalkeeper is obviously aware that he doesn't need to leave the field of play afterwards too.I know the time is added on but that's not the point - the point is it's blatant cheating - what are the powers of be going to do about it? Is anything in the pipeline to stamp it iut? It fragments the game & makes for a poorer spectacle for the paying public.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Martin
Thanks for the question.
Obviously if you and others can see what is going on the powers that be are also well aware of matters that are not Fair Play.
As it currently stands a team must have a goalkeeper and all referees will stop the game when a goalkeeper is down. Unfortunately we are not mind readers so we have to go with what has been presented.
What I have seen is that both teams use the opportunity not just one.
For what it is worth the FA has tried to deal with the injury situations and some of the recent items that have been introduced are
1. Lengthy added time being added on. I have seen 8, 9 plus minutes being added on
2. Restricting immediate return after injury based on individual circumstances.
Personally I think there is a lot wrong at the moment in the game and while some changes have been welcome a great deal more could be done.
One suggestion I would make is that in certain circumstances players could be treated with play continuing until there is possible interference.
Case in point was the Bradley injury in the game v Arsenal. Physios could have treated the player on the line with play restarted immediately with the throw in. It would have prevented the confrontation that took place at that incident.
In addition the rule used by NFHS as mentioned by my good colleague Referee Manjone deals with this at lower levels of the game.
Unfortunately I doubt the law body will deal with this or that teams will change their tactics. We see many players that know they need to leave the field of play laying down seeking treatment until a substitute is ready.
Again it is teams gaming the laws to their own advantage and they all do it. They don’t like it when it’s against them but all teams do it when it suits them.




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Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Hi Martin,

It is interesting that you mention this situation. In the U.S. different levels of competition are covered by different rules making bodies, and one of them, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) addressed and changed the rule for its 20,000 member schools at the start of the 25-26 high school soccer seasons.

As before and as like the FIFA rule, the goalkeeper did not have to leave the game when attended to for an injury on the field. Now, all players including the goalkeeper must leave the game when attended to for an injury.

This rule was brought about partially because of the situation you mention and also because the safety of players is a major concern of the NFHS. The goalkeeper may want to stay in the game but further attention to the injury may be needed.

The other major rules making body in the U.S. is the NCAA and there is speculation they may also change the rule in the same manner as the NFHS.

Obviously as you pointed out, FIFA also needs to adopt a similar rule, and many of these "fake" injuries will be avoided.

Thank you for this observation.


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