OFFICIAL: IFAB approves new rule from next season for goalkeepers

The IFAB tackles the time waste of the goalkeeper.

The International Football Association Board (the IFAB) has approved a number of changes in the laws of the game for 2025/26. After tests have shown a major positive impact in which keepers hold the ball for too long, the IFAB unanimously decided to change law 12.2 (indirect free kick). The amendment means that if a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than eight seconds (where the referee uses a visual countdown of five seconds), the referee will grant a corner to the opposite team (instead of the current indirect free kick for more than six seconds).

The meeting, chaired by the IFA, was also attended by representatives of FIFA, the FA, the Scottish FA, the FA of Wales and the IFAB administration.