A new rule will see goalkeepers punished with a corner for the opposition if they hold the ball for more than eight seconds, starting this summer.
The change was unanimously approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) at its annual general meeting in Northern Ireland on Saturday. The rule will come into effect at FIFA’s Club World Cup, which will be held in the USA from June 15 to July 13.
Currently, goalkeepers are penalized if they hold the ball for more than six seconds, with the opposition awarded an indirect free-kick. However, Noel Mooney, CEO of the Football Association of Wales (FAW), explained that the six-second rule had become less consistently enforced over time. The hope is that the new eight-second law will help reduce time-wasting.
The rule has already been trialed in over 400 matches across three different competitions, including Premier League 2. Referees will also issue a five-second countdown as a warning before a goalkeeper is penalized.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström stated, “The test was very successful, and referees didn’t have to signal for a corner as often.”
In addition, the IFAB voted to continue the offside trials where an attacker will be considered onside if their torso is level with the second-to-last defender.
