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Football officials are reportedly considering a new rule change following Daniel Farke's criticism of Manchester City for allegedly "bending the rules."
This comes after a situation that allowed the manager to provide new instructions to his team.
Manchester City medical staff attended to Gianluigi Donnarumma, allowing Pep Guardiola to communicate with his team.Credit: Getty Images
Leeds United has claimed this practice constitutes ‘bending the rules’.Credit: CameraSport via Getty Images
Currently, outfield players are required to leave the pitch for 30 seconds if they go down injured, but this rule does not apply to goalkeepers, who cannot be forced to leave for treatment.
However, there are discussions about a potential rule that would require teams to temporarily remove an outfield player if a goalkeeper requires medical attention, as reported by the BBC .
The report indicates that the tactic involving goalkeepers was extensively discussed, and there was ‘support’ for the notion that clubs must designate a player to exit the field for half a minute if the goalkeeper is being treated.
Another proposal on the table was to prohibit players from approaching the touchline in such situations, with the outfield player suggestion gaining increasing support.
Phil Foden scored a stoppage-time winner after the newly promoted side managed to recover from an early two-goal deficit.
In comments made after the dramatic defeat at the Etihad, Farke stated: “Everyone knows why he went down, right?
“The elephant in the room. There’s a reason.
“You can feign an injury to conduct additional team talks. If it's within the rules, it’s clever.
“But does it align with the spirit of fair play? I have my doubts.
“If we fail to educate our players about fair play and sportsmanship and merely attempt to manipulate the rules for our benefit, it’s not something I personally endorse.”
Leeds manager Daniel Farke converses with Gianluigi Donnarumma at full-time.Credit: Getty Images
“I asked the fourth official at that moment if anything could be done, and he replied, ‘No, our hands are tied; we can’t do anything.’”
A rule change would likely ignite a debate, but Match of the Day pundit and former midfielder Danny Murphy fully supports the idea of temporarily removing an outfield player if a goalkeeper is injured.
He commented: “I believe they can implement this change quite swiftly.
“If a goalkeeper goes down, rather than him having to exit, one of the outfield players should leave the field, making it fair for everyone involved.
“It’s a minor adjustment that can make a significant difference.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the proposed rule change regarding goalkeepers?
The proposed rule change would require teams to temporarily substitute an outfield player if their goalkeeper needs medical attention during a match.
Why is this rule change being considered?
This rule change is being considered to prevent teams from using tactical injuries to gain an unfair advantage, as highlighted by recent comments from various managers.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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