In Belfast, Ireland, soccer’s governing officials are once more addressing the issue of goalkeepers wasting time by holding onto the ball for extended periods. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has sanctioned a change in the rules, effectively granting the opposing team a corner kick if a goalkeeper retains possession of the ball for more than eight seconds.
This amendment is set to debut at the Club World Cup in June and will subsequently be applied in various domestic and international tournaments starting from the following season.
The adjustment replaces the existing, largely overlooked rule that permits referees to award an indirect free kick to the opposing team if a goalkeeper holds the ball beyond six seconds. Under the new system, referees will signal a five-second countdown with their hand to notify goalkeepers that it’s time to resume play.
The IFAB noted that implementing the eight-second rule during experimental trials in England’s Premier League 2 for youth teams, as well as in minor competitions across Italy and Malta, yielded promising outcomes.
Patrick Nelson, the IFAB director and head of the Irish Football Association, shared at a news conference, “You can see it has a significant impact on goalkeeper behavior.” He added that the trial results have been overwhelmingly positive.
Nelson also mentioned that the lack of enforcement regarding the six-second rule had been a persistent issue for many.
