IFAB approves goalkeeper time-wasting rule change from 2025/26

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved a significant rule change that will affect goalkeepers starting from the 2025/26 season, aimed at reducing time-wasting. Under the new regulations, if a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than eight seconds, referees will award a corner kick to the opposing team instead of an indirect free kick, which was the previous punishment for a six-second hold. This change follows successful trials in various leagues and includes a five-second countdown by referees to signal the impending penalty. The decision was made during the IFAB's annual meeting in Belfast, where lawmakers also discussed additional offside trials and other modifications to enhance the game's fairness. The new rule will be implemented globally from July 1, 2025, and will be applied during this summer's Club World Cup. This adjustment reflects ongoing efforts to enforce laws more strictly and curtail time-wasting tactics in football.