Goalkeepers to be punished with corner for holding ball more than eight seconds

Ifab announces law change for next season

NEW RULE: Goalkeepers will get a five-second countdown from the referee before a corner is awarded against them

Goalkeepers who waste time by holding on to the ball are to be penalised with the award of a corner, the law-making International Football Association Board (Ifab) has confirmed.

The new law, which will be rolled out across the game this summer, will mean goalkeepers have eight seconds to claim and redistribute the ball before they are penalised, with the referee giving the keeper a five-second countdown to warn them of incoming punishment. This will replace the current system whereby a keeper has six seconds to move the ball on, and is punished with an indirect free-kick if they do not.