English football will launch a test run this season designed to stop the goalkeeper tactical timeout, BBC Sport has learned.

The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, National League and Women's Super League have backed the plan, subject to approval from the International Football Association Board (Ifab).

Ifab declined to alter the rule earlier this year but asked leagues to offer themselves for experiments.

Pro Ref, under chief refereeing officer Howard Webb, worked with the leagues to find a way forward and settled on requiring teams to remove an outfield player from the pitch.

When a referee allows the physio to treat a goalkeeper, the coach gets 10 seconds to name another player who must leave the field for one minute and inform the fourth official.

If no choice is made in that time, the captain must exit the pitch.

Subject to Ifab clearance, the first match under the trial will be the Carabao Cup preliminary round clash between Tranmere and Rochdale on Saturday, 1 August.

BBC Sport understands the Australian A-League will test a different version where the captain always leaves the field.

The tactic of using goalkeeper treatment to gain a timeout has grown more frequent and drawn criticism in recent seasons.

Goalkeepers have often sat on the turf to call for the physio while teammates gather at the technical area for instructions, then rise once the talk ends.

Teams have also used goalkeeper stops to break the flow when opponents hold the upper hand.

Last November, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma pretended to be hurt to "bend the rules" and halt play.

At the Ifab AGM in February, head of referees Pierluigi Collina called solving the goalkeeper timeout issue a top priority.

At the 2026 World Cup, Collina instructed officials to keep players away from the technical area during all stoppages.

The impact remains unclear, since three-minute hydration breaks each half already gave teams a chance to talk.

English football decided that simply barring visits to the technical area would not stop coaches from using goalkeepers to waste time.

The chosen trial mirrors the rule already applied to outfield players, who must leave the pitch for one minute when the physio enters.

The measure aims to deter the tactic in advance rather than react after a team talk occurs.

Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy proposed last season that lawmakers could close the gap in exactly this manner.

"I think they can change it really quickly," Murphy said. "If a keeper goes down injured, instead of him having to go off, one of the outfield players should go off then it's fair all round."

"It's a little change that makes a world of difference."

Officials will allow players to approach the touchline during treatment, yet the risk of playing with 10 men for a minute is expected to discourage the practice.

This matters most in the closing stages when sides defending a lead have used goalkeeper stops to slow the game; they would now face a numerical disadvantage.

Several situations will not require a teammate to leave the field.

When a goalkeeper signals no physio is needed and has not stopped play
When the goalkeeper and an outfield player collide
When a goalkeeper is fouled and requires urgent care
When a goalkeeper is bleeding
When a serious injury (requiring substitution) or concussion occurs

Some worry that forcing a player off for one minute may lead goalkeepers and outfield players to continue despite injury.

Ifab will review trial outcomes at its meetings during the seasons, which could bring a worldwide law change from 2027-28.