Dave Challinor has called for the rules to be changed surrounding goalkeepers feigning injuries after Stockport County‘s goalless draw with Leyton Orient.
The Hatters could not find the crucial goal at Edgeley Park, which would have seen them keep level on points with third-placed Bolton Wanderers, their task made much harder after former Trotter Josh Dacres-Cogley was dismissed for a second yellow card with eight minutes to go.
However, following the match, Challinor unleashed a tirade after Orient goalkeeper and deadline day signing Josh Oluwayemi went down requiring treatment, which allowed new instructions to be delivered by O’s boss Richie Wellens.
🗣️ “The boys put their bodies on the line brilliantly.” 👊
Tobi Oluwayemi speaks after his debut 👇#LOFC #OneOrient pic.twitter.com/si5OpITcUb
— Leyton Orient FC (@leytonorientfc) February 7, 2026
Calls For Rule Changes
Speaking to Sam Byrne in the aftermath, Challinor explained his objections to the tactic of goalkeepers going down, while also explaining why his side did the same thing during the game.
“I don’t like it. But until something is done about it, what are you going to do? I can categorically say I wouldn’t have done it today had they (Orient) not done the same thing.”
“We’ve gone down to ten, I’m then going to say ‘go down’. It’s an absolute shambles. It needs sorting out.”
“I’m very, very happy to make sure that with what I do with my team through the week, everyone knows what they’re doing if (the opposition) go to a different situation, knows what they’re doing if we make a substitution, knows what they’re doing if we go down to ten. Not ‘get the goalkeeper to go down, and get people over for a drink and a team talk’.”
“If we say that you have to take the goalkeeper off if they go down, bring it on. Something needs to be done – whether it will, or whether it won’t, is well above me. But yeah, that’s the circumstances.”
What Is Being Done To Stop ‘Tactical Injuries’?
There has been a noticable rise in these incidents where goalkeepers face injury and stop the match in order for managers to change around their tactics and deliver talks to their players.
This has been an issue across all leagues, with Leeds United boss Daniel Farke facing a similar situation when his side looked to be closing in on an equaliser against Manchester City back in November.
Reports from Mike Keegan in the Daily Mail over the past week have seen some progress being made towards a solution, with proposals suggesting that an outfield player should be removed from the pitch for 30 seconds if a goalkeeper goes down with an injury.
IFAB will meet at the end of the month to discuss these proposals, meaning that it could be close to a resolution in time for the beginning of the upcoming 2026/27 season.
Is Challinor Right To Criticise?
Seeing these tactical injuries come into play more and more frequently has become an increasingly frustrating experience, meaning that managers, such as Farke and Dave Challinor, are right to call out the bending of the rules.
While it was not his side that started it, it is a shame that Challinor responded in kind by doing the same thing during the match instead of rising above what he views as an ‘absolute shambles’.
It is understandable why he was forced into it as they looked to hang on for a point against a very potent Leyton Orient side, but some will view the decision as undermining his own opinions.
