Explainer: What is the eight-second IFAB goalkeeper rule?

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has introduced a new rule aimed at reducing time-wasting by goalkeepers. Starting next season, goalkeepers will only be allowed to hold the ball for a maximum of eight seconds. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the eight-second IFAB goalkeeper rule.Who’s worth the gloves? Ranking the 10 most valuable premier league goalkeepers in 2024

How the Rule Will Be Enforced

IFAB is a distinct body from FIFA, although FIFA is represented on the board and holds 50% of the voting power. Under the new amendment, referees will award a corner kick to the opposing team if a goalkeeper holds onto the ball for more than eight seconds. This replaces the current rule, which punishes time-wasting with an indirect free-kick.

Currently, Law 12.2 states that goalkeepers have six seconds to release the ball before an indirect free-kick is awarded. However, this will change next season, with referees using a visual five-second countdown to help enforce the rule.

The decision was confirmed at IFAB’s 139th Annual General Meeting in Belfast, where several other updates to the Laws of the Game were also approved.

IFAB’s Official Statement

“After trials showed a major positive impact where goalkeepers were holding onto the ball for too long, IFAB unanimously decided to amend Law 12.2,” the governing body stated.

“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),” IFAB added.

Captain-Only Communication with Referees

IFAB also announced that competitions will have the option to implement a rule allowing only team captains to approach referees during matches. The Premier League has already adopted this rule, and it was also enforced at Euro 2024.

“The IFAB agreed that stronger cooperation and communication between captains and referees—who often face verbal and/or physical dissent when making decisions—can help instil higher levels of fairness and mutual respect, both of which are core values of the game,” IFAB stated.

Changes to Drop Ball and Referee Body Cameras

Another key change concerns Law 8.2, which dictates how a drop ball is awarded:
If play is stopped while the ball is outside the penalty area, it will be dropped to the team that had or would have gained possession—if this is clear to the referee.
If possession is unclear, the ball will be dropped for the team that last touched it, at the spot where play was stopped.

Additionally, referees will begin wearing body cameras at the FIFA Club World Cup in June as part of live match broadcasts. IFAB noted that trials at the grassroots level in England have had a positive effect on player behaviour, and further testing will be conducted.

Implementation and Trials

The eight-second rule will come into effect on July 1, 2025.

The rule will also be used at the 2026 FIFA Club World Cup in June.

The Club World Cup, which begins on June 14 in Miami, will serve as a testing ground for expanded referee body camera trials.

Trials in Italy’s U-20 Primavera 1 league have already shown promising results, with goalkeepers releasing the ball within five seconds in most cases.

FIFA Referees Committee Chairman’s Statement

FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina confirmed the rule’s success in Italy.

“In 80 games in Italy’s U-20 Primavera 1 league, goalkeepers had possession of the ball 856 times, releasing it within five seconds in over 75% of cases,” said Collina.

“This is much better than what we’ve been seeing in Serie A and the other big leagues, where goalkeepers can have it for 20 seconds or more,” he added.

Collina also revealed that he never awarded an indirect free-kick for a goalkeeper time-wasting throughout his refereeing career.

VAR Communication and Other Law Changes

Competitions will now have the option to allow referees to announce VAR decisions via stadium PA systems, a system first trialled at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

A new rule states that an indirect free-kick will be awarded if a substitute, team official, or unauthorised person touches the ball as it is leaving the field of play, provided there is no intent to interfere unfairly.