From next season, goalkeepers who hold onto the ball for more than eight seconds will be penalised by conceding a corner kick, following a rule change by football’s governing body, the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
Under the current regulations, goalkeepers are supposed to be penalised with an indirect free-kick if they retain possession for more than six seconds. However, this rule is seldom enforced.
This season, a trial allowing goalkeepers to hold onto the ball for up to eight seconds has been in place across several competitions, with referees using a visual countdown for the final five seconds.
“The amendment means that if a goalkeeper holds the ball for longer than eight seconds (with the referee using a visual five-second countdown), the referee will award a corner kick to the opposing team (rather than the current indirect free kick for more than six seconds),” IFAB stated following its annual meeting in Belfast.
Additionally, IFAB endorsed FIFA’s proposal to equip referees with body cameras during next year’s World Cup, integrating their perspective into live match broadcasts.
