Arsenal manager warns goalkeepers time-wasting harming ‘attractiveness’ of WSL

Robin Bairner

• 11 Jan 2026 05:10 CST
• 5 min read

News

Arsenal Women’s manager Renee Slegers has claimed that goalkeepers are threatening the “attractiveness” of the WSL due to their time wasting.

Slegers complained after Arsenal were held to a scoreless draw in the WSL against Manchester United on Saturday.

United were reduced to 10 players after 65 minutes when Jayde Riviere was sent-off for receiving a second booking, and in the aftermath goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce went down injured to get medical attention. This allowed her team-mates to go to the sidelines to get guidance.

Tullis-Joyce was later booked for time-wasting.

“When you look at the bigger picture, there are so many people investing to come and watch us in the stadium or on TV," Slegers is quoted by BBC Sport as having said.

“The product needs to be attractive and this is one of the areas that probably brings the entertainment down a little bit.

“I haven't had much time to think about the exact solution but I think there are other people who are thinking about that... hopefully!"

She was asked her opinion on only the captain being able to speak to coaches and replied: “Yeah, I've heard that suggestion. That could be an example. But I think there is so much at stake that teams, players and coaches are always looking at how they can stretch the rules.

“What is important is that I think we keep the game attractive.”

Man Utd reply

Man Utd boss Marc Skinner claimed that Tullis-Joyce “had something and the doctors went on to see” but did admit that he would be happy to see stricter officiating on time wasting.

“I think the referees have tried to put things in place,” he said.

“If one of our outfield players gets injured by an accidental challenge, they have to come off for 30 seconds so you lose an advantage there. So I think it's hard.

“But from my perspective, I'd happily explore it because we regularly face it ourselves.”

Goalkeeper treatment: An increasing issue

The issue of goalkeepers going down injured to receive potentially tactical treatment has received increased attention in recent weeks.

Keepers, unlike outfield players, do not need to go off the field when receiving treatment, so there are claims that teams are exploiting this loophole to get tactical time-outs.

Gary Neville accused Newcastle goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale of this in a Premier League match in December, although Magpies boss Eddie Howe denied that was why he went down.

Similarly, Gianluigi Donnarumma did likewise for Manchester City against Leeds United, prompting Daniel Farke to lose his cool.

“Everyone knows why he went down,” Farke fumed.

“It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is smart. If I like it? If it's within the sense of fair play? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the authorities to find a solution.

“If we don't educate our players in football what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just try to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like personally. But if it is within the rules I can't complain.”

Goalkeepers going off injured: Action will be taken

IFAB (International Football Association Board), which is the regulatory body that is responsible for creating and changing the laws of the game, is already said to have discussed a change in the rules regarding these alleged tactical time outs.

BBC Sport reports that the problem was “talked about at length”, with two solutions suggested.

Firstly, teams could nominate a player to go off for the 30 seconds instead of the goalkeeper, thereby removing the incentive for the shot-stopper to go down.

Secondly, it was suggested that players could be banned from the touchline during a stoppage in play.

It is claimed that the issue will be discussed again on 20 January, with a nominated outfielder being taken off for 30 seconds a solution that is gaining increasing support.

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