The International Football Association Board (IFAB) have announced a newly revised law which will be implemented from the 2025/2026 season, following the body’s 139th Annual General Meeting held in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The latest decision from IFAB comes as a response to goalkeepers holding on to the ball longer than the currently permitted six seconds.
As it stands, Law 12.2 states that an indirect free-kick is to be awarded if a goalkeeper “controls the ball with the hand/arm for more than six seconds before releasing it”.
A statement released by IFAB read: “The IFAB has unanimously decided to amend Law 12.2 (Indirect free kick).”
“The amendment means that if a goalkeeper holds the ball for longer than eight seconds (with the referee using a visual five-second countdown), the referee will award a corner kick to the opposing team (rather than the current indirect free kick for more than six seconds).”
The new law by IFAB, is set to be enforced from 1st July, 2025.