Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Goalkeeper time-wasting will lead to corners being awarded from 2025-26 in new IFAB rule

According to the new law, goalkeepers could concede a corner on holding the ball for too long

Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

In the latest changes in laws by The International Football Association (IFAB), goalkeepers could concede a corner on holding the ball for too long. Goalkeepers are currently prohibited by IFAB rule book from holding onto the ball for more than six seconds. If they did so, the opposition was given an indirect free kick from their position.

According to the new Law 12.2, Goalkeepers who hold the ball for longer than eight seconds will be penalized with a corner for the opponent. This was discussed at an annual general meeting in Northern Ireland on Saturday.

Referees will now implement a visual five-second countdown during the allotted time. This will be an attempt to discourage the time wasted by goalkeepers and is to bring more flow to the game.

It is also said that the new rule will be active at Fifa’s Club World Cup, which takes place in the USA from 15 June. This comes after it was tested in over 400 games across competitions like the Premier League 2 and in Maltese.

The reports suggest that three corners were awarded as a result of the goalkeeper holding the ball for more than eight seconds during these games. The trial proved hugely successful and the law will change across all competitions as of July, for the 2025-26 season.

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According to the IFAB, referees are reluctant to apply the six-second rule because a close-range free kick is “too great an advantage. As the chance of scoring became high, whereas they had no possibility of scoring when the offence occurred.

The statement also talked about how managing a free kick from close range could be “often extremely difficult, especially if it is to be taken from 9.15m from the goal or closer when the defenders have to be on the goal line between the goalposts.

🚨 OFFICIAL: IFAB approves new rule from next season for goalkeepers.

If the goalkeeper holds the ball for more than 8 seconds, the referee will award a corner kick to the opposing team. pic.twitter.com/4193QmFDQN
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 1, 2025

While the close-range free-kicks put the opposition in a strong position given for time-wasting, the awarded corner according to the new rule will switch possessions without giving the opposition too great an advantage.

Implementing the new rule will punish the goalkeepers for wasting time by throwing themselves to the ground and interrupting the flow. The studies also show that six to eight seconds are enough for the goalkeeper to start a counterattack.

In addition to this change, IFAB is also exploring other modifications to enhance the game, including adjustments to the offside rule and the potential use of body cameras by referees to improve transparency and officiating quality.

IFAB rule

Mayur Dedwal

soccer

I’m a Sports Content Writer with expertise in football. Being a decade old football enthusiast and part-time coach, I try to bring to life to the articles in a statistical manner. Being around all kinds of sports updates and able to put in my perspective’s to the happenings in the world of football are few of the many things i like in doing what i do. You can find me playing Sunday leagues or Xbox on weekends!