FIFA Approves New Law Against Goalkeepers

FIFA, the organization that oversees world football, has adopted new rules for goalkeepers that state that if they hold onto the ball for longer than eight seconds, the opposition team would be awarded a corner kick.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) unanimously approved this important regulation amendment at their annual general meeting in Northern Ireland. FIFA’s Club World Cup, which will be held in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025, is when the new law is expected to go into force.

 Real Madrid Face UEFA Sanctions Over Homophobic Chants Against Guardiola

Goalies were previously subject to a punishment in the form of an indirect free kick given to the opposition after the controlling law stipulated that they could only hold the ball for a maximum of six seconds.

But Noel Mooney, the CEO of the Football Association of Wales (FAW), voiced worries that the six-second rule’s application has become less strict over time. It is hoped that this new eight-second rule will significantly cut down on time-wasting during games.

Officials can assess the efficacy of this new law because it has already been tested in more than 400 games in three different tournaments, including Premier League 2. In order to make sure goalkeepers are aware of their time limits, referees will also use a five-second countdown timer as part of a preliminary warning system before awarding the penalty.

“The assessments were successful, and notably, referees did not frequently need to signal for a corner as a result,” said FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom, highlighting the favorable results from previous testing.

The game’s dynamics will also be further altered by the IFAB’s decision to keep experimenting with offside rules, which will permit attackers to be deemed onside if their torso lines up with the second-to-last defender’s.