The current rule allows goalkeepers to hold the ball for six seconds, but an indirect free-kick is given if they hold the ball for over six seconds.
However, this rule is often ignored. This season, some competitions have been testing the new rule that allows goalkeepers to hold the ball for eight seconds.
The IFAB on Friday, February 28, 2025, after a meeting hosted by the Irish Football Association (IFA) in Belfast, Northern Ireland, made a number of changes to the laws of the Ggame for the 2025/26 season.
“After trials have shown a major positive impact where goalkeepers have been holding onto the ball for too long, the IFAB have 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),” a statement by the IFAB read.
If a team official or player off the field touches the ball, the other team will get an indirect free kick. Referees can now announce VAR decisions to the crowd. Assistant referees will position themselves at the penalty mark during VAR checks.
