FOOTBALL lawmakers could reportedly bring in a new rule change after Daniel Farke’s blast about Man City “bending the rules”.
The Leeds boss was left fuming after Gianluigi Donnarumma went down injured for treatment in a move that allowed Pep Guardiola to get new instructions to his team.
Outfield players are sent off the pitch for 30 seconds if they go down with a knock – but it is a rule that is not in force for goalkeepers as they cannot be forced to leave for treatment.
However, a move that may force teams to temporarily take out an outfield player if a goalkeeper goes down on the turf is being discussed reports the BBC.
They state that the tactic involving the man between the sticks was discussed at length and there was ‘support’ for the idea that clubs must nominate a player to go off for half a minute if the goalkeeper has treatment from medical staff.
Another idea on the table was banning players from approaching the touchline in such an instance with the outfield player suggestion ‘getting increasing support’
Phil Foden netted a stoppage time winner as City came out on top in a five-goal thriller with Leeds United after the newly promoted side responded from going two goals down early on.
Speaking after the last-gasp defeat at the Etihad, Farke said: “Everyone knows why he went down, right?
“The elephant in the room. There’s a reason.
“You can do a fake injury in order to do additional team talks. But if it’s within the rules. It’s smart.
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“But is it in the sense of fair play? I would have my doubts.
“If we don’t educate our players in football what to do in terms of fair play, sportsmanship and you just try to bend the rules to your advantage, it’s nothing I personally like
“I asked the fourth official at this point, do you want to do something, ‘no our hands are tied, we can’t do anything.”
A change of the rules would likely spark a debate, but Match of the Day pundit and former Premier League midfielder Danny Murphy was fully behind sending an outfield player off if a goalie goes down.
He said: “I think they can change it really quickly.
“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.”
