The football world is heading for a stunning rule change that will dramatically change how the sport if played and how goalkeepers operate with a new regulation that will be introduced from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which will start on Saturday (June 14) in the United States of America.

In a bid to eradicate time-wasting by players, the International Football Assocation Board (IFAB) have introduced a dramatic change in rules. For those unversed, the IFAB are responsible for making and amending the laws of the game in football.

As per the new rule set by the IFAB, the goalkeepers will only be allowed to hold a ball for a maximum of eight seconds. While earlier, keepers were punished by yellow cards at the discretion of the referee, the new regulation will mean that once the goalkeeper has the ball in control, if he does not release it within eight seconds, the opposition team will be awarded a corner. The referee will count the time with raised hands once five seconds are left to ensure the rule is strictly enforced. Previously, a rule did exist where teams will be awarded an indirect free-kick if the keeper held the ball for more than six seconds, but it proved nearly impossible to impose.

However, there will be no disciplinary action against keepers like a yellow card unless the offense is repeatedly committed.

• the ball is between their hands/arms or between their hand(s)/arm(s) and any surface (e.g. ground, own body)

•holding the ball in their outstretched open hand(s)

• bouncing it on the ground or throwing it in the air.

The referee will decide when the goalkeeper has control of the ball and the eight seconds begin and will visually count down the last five seconds with a raised hand. A goalkeeper cannot be challenged by an opponent when in control of the ball with their hand(s)/arm (S)," said a statement by IFAB explained the rule and how it will be determined.

"Referees were not enforcing the Law, and goalkeepers were holding the ball for much longer than six seconds to waste time and change the tempo of the match, especially when their team were winning. This led to frustration amongst players, coaches and fans," IFAB explained the reason behind the rule change.

"The IFAB sought an effective deterrent and a restart that would be easy for referees to manage. Corner kicks were chosen because goalkeepers will not want to concede them and because they are easy to manage and can be set up much more quickly than an indirect free kick in the penalty area," IFAB explained why the penalty was changed from an indirect free kick to a corner kick.

Why 8 Seconds?

The IFAB also revealed the reason behind their decision on eight seconds as the limit, which is an increase for the earlier mandate of six seconds. The law-making body of the sport stated that analysis showed them that there could be a genuine reason behind them not releasing the ball before eight seconds.

the game, they usually released the ball within eight seconds of gaining clear control of it. The initial analysis and trial results revealed three main time frames for goalkeepers releasing the

ball:

• 1-4 seconds: the goalkeeper wants to start a quick counter-attack*

• 5-8 seconds: the goalkeeper wants to release the ball quickly but cannot find an available teammate or another player is in their way (usually accidentally), e.g. crowded penalty area after an

attacking free kick or corner kick

• Over 8 seconds**: the goalkeeper is deliberately wasting time and/or trying to slow down the

tempo of the game," IFAB explained.