FIFA control change: goalkeeper can hold ball for eight seconds

Football goalkeepers should be allowed to hold the ball in their hands in the future, but one violation will be punished with a corner kick for the other team in the future. The referee is said to show the last five seconds. This was decided by the rule keepers of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) at their annual conference in Belfast.

So far, six seconds have been the permissible maximum duration, with a violation there is an indirect free kick for the other team and thus usually a greater chance of scoring than with a corner kick. However, the referee is often very generously designed.

That is the crucial point: if referees consistently enforce the new provision, it will have an impact on the game.

The fact that FIFA is serious about it indicates the extension from six to eight seconds and the corner kick as a punishment. That means defusing. However, this makes sense if it is to be used consistently. FIFA therefore relies on practicality. Attempts with the new rule showed that it had a significant positive influence to prevent time game by goalkeepers. The new rule should apply for the first time at the club World Cup from June 14th.

In addition, the rule keepers introduced guidelines so that in the future in all competitions where this would be desired, only the captains can speak to the referee. The IFAB also supports efforts by the World Association FIFA to have more referees wearing cameras wearing on the body in the future.