Football’s lawmakers are considering a significant change to goalkeeper rules in response to time-wasting tactics. Under the proposed system, goalkeepers would be restricted to holding the ball for no longer than eight seconds. If they exceed this limit, referees would award a corner kick to the opposition instead of the usual indirect free kick, which is rarely enforced because it could lead to a scoring opportunity.
This proposed rule has already undergone trials in various competitions. One notable test occurred in Premier League 2, with additional trials in Malta and other regions. These trials are set to expand to Italian youth football, and if successful, the rule could be implemented more broadly across the football world.
The idea is to deter goalkeepers from delaying the game by holding onto the ball for extended periods. Patrick Nelson, the chief executive of the Irish Football Association (IFA) and a board member of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), emphasized that early data from these trials is promising. The introduction of the corner kick penalty has significantly reduced the time goalkeepers hold onto the ball. Coaches are also expected to strongly discourage such behavior, as conceding a corner kick or throw-in that leads to a goal could have serious repercussions for the goalkeeper’s career.
In addition to the goalkeeper rule, IFAB is reportedly considering changes to the offside rule, with ongoing trials in that area as well. Former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, now FIFA’s chief of global football, has supported these potential changes to the offside law.