Soccer’s rule makers are revisiting efforts to reduce time-wasting by goalkeepers who hold onto the ball for too long.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) approved a rule change on Saturday, stating that if a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than eight seconds, the opposing team will be awarded a corner kick. This new rule will be implemented at the Club World Cup in June, and will be used in domestic and international competitions starting next season.
This new rule replaces the existing, rarely enforced rule, which allows the opposing team to receive an indirect free kick if a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than six seconds.
Referees will also be instructed to use a five-second countdown to warn goalkeepers that time is running out to put the ball back into play.
The IFAB reported that the eight-second rule showed positive results during trials in England’s Premier League 2, which is for youth teams, as well as in smaller competitions in Italy and Malta.
Patrick Nelson, IFAB director and head of the Irish Football Association, highlighted the positive effect the new rule has had on goalkeeper behavior. “You can see it has a significant impact,” he said during a news conference. “The results of the trials have been very, very positive.”
Nelson also acknowledged that the failure to enforce the previous six-second rule had been a source of frustration for many people over the years.