Tactical time-outs: How could football’s goalkeeper problem be fixed?

Until a few seasons ago, it was usually the outfielder who went down to stop the play.

It was used for two different reasons.

Either breaking the opponent’s momentum by causing the game to be stopped or the coach giving instructions to his players. Sometimes it was both.

English football has tried to combat this by insisting that any player receiving treatment must leave the field for 30 seconds.

There were some positive results, but the managers changed focus and told the goalkeeper to seek treatment.

A team cannot play without its goalkeeper, so it has become a risk-free method to impress the opposition or seize the opportunity to talk to your team.

There is nothing the referee can do about this as he cannot accuse a player of faking an injury. If it turns out that the player is actually injured, this could have serious consequences.

So the game has entered a doomsday cycle.

The goalkeepers fall to the ground and the other 10 players run to the technical area to give a team talk.

As soon as the coach delivers his message, the goalkeeper miraculously stands up.

This has become a theme in Leeds’ season, which began in November with the defeat of Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma as the West Yorkshire club were on the rise at the Etihad Stadium.

Manager Daniel Farke accused Donnarumma of “bending the rules” and faking an injury to disrupt the game.

But this is not a Leeds issue, this is a football issue. This happens at all levels of the game and is especially common in women’s matches.