From this summer, goalkeepers will be penalized with a corner kick for holding the ball for more than eight seconds.
The new rule, unanimously approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) at its annual general meeting in Northern Ireland, will be implemented at FIFA’s Club World Cup, taking place in the USA from June 15 to July 13.
Previously, goalkeepers were punished with an indirect free-kick for holding the ball for more than six seconds. However, the implementation of this rule has “dissolved over time,” according to Noel Mooney, CEO of the Football Association of Wales. The new eight-second rule is intended to reduce time-wasting and encourage a faster pace of play.
The new rule has already been trialled in over 400 games across three different competitions, including the Premier League 2. To ensure consistency, referees will warn goalkeepers with a five-second countdown before issuing a penalty. FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom expressed satisfaction with the trial, stating that the referees found it successful and didn't have to signal for a corner kick as often.
The IFAB also voted to continue trials of a new offside rule, which determines an attacker to be onside if his torso is level with the second-to-last defender. The aim of this trial is to reduce the number of marginal offside decisions and promote a more attacking style of play. The results of these trials will be analyzed and discussed at the IFAB's next meeting, with potential changes to the Laws of the Game to be implemented in the future.
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