In an effort to prevent goalkeepers from wasting time, a new rule is going to be implemented during the following season.
Following their annual general meeting in Belfast, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has made the announcement regarding the change in the law.
If a custodian is caught holding the ball for more than eight seconds, they will be subject to a penalty beginning with the 2025–2026 season.
The violation will result in the referee awarding a corner kick to the team that is competing against the offender.
It is a modification to Law 12.2, which previously stated that an indirect free-kick should be awarded after six seconds, despite the fact that goalkeepers were very rarely penalised for holding the ball for longer than the allotted time.
It is likely that Arne Slot, the manager of Liverpool, will be pleased with the new rule because he is one of the individuals who has criticised referees in the Premier League for disregarding this regulation.
A visual countdown will also be used by referees when the law is in effect. This countdown will count out the final five seconds before a custodian is required to release the ball.
A statement issued by the International Federation of Basketball Associations (IFAB) read as follows: “The IFAB has unanimously decided to amend Law 12.2 (Indirect free kick) after trials have shown a major positive impact in situations where goalkeepers have been holding onto the ball for too long.”
“The amendment means that if a custodian 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).”
The legislators of the sport have confirmed five changes following their annual general meeting, and this move is one of them.
A modification has been made to the law regarding dropped balls, and it will now be dropped to the team that had possession of the ball or would have gained possession of it if it had been outside the box.
In order to avoid the ball being dropped for the final team to touch it, it is imperative that it be made clear who would have been in possession of the ball.
In the meantime, an indirect free kick will now be awarded in the event that a player or official from the opposing team touches the ball as it is leaving the pitch.
However, the referees will not show the offender a yellow card in any circumstance.
The laws that govern video assistant referees have also been updated to include provisions that allow referees to announce decisions following video assistant referee reviews in competitions.
This modification has already been implemented in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup for this season, and it will also be implemented in the FA Cup beginning this weekend and continuing forward.
The officials have, at long last, been provided with new guidelines that are practical in nature when a penalty is being taken.
Instead of monitoring the goal line and goalkeeper encroachment, assistant referees will now stand in line with the penalty spot. Video assistant referees will now monitor the goal line.
