The IFAB revolutionizes the rules with a new rule for goalkeepers. What do you think?

Among all the modifications, there is one that stands out for its direct impact on the development of matches: the new restriction for goalkeepers when it comes to holding the ball with their hands. Starting this summer, if the goalkeeper controls the ball for more than eight seconds, the referee will penalize with a corner kick in favor of the opponent. A measure aimed at eradicating deliberate time-wasting and speeding up the pace of the game.

Until now, the regulations established a six-second limit, punishable by an indirect free kick which, in practice, was rarely enforced. FIFA acknowledges that its application was merely symbolic due to the operational difficulty of executing an indirect free kick inside the penalty area. In the organization's words, "goalkeepers take advantage of this rule without consequences, slowing down the match when their team is in the lead".

After various trials in minor tournaments, IFAB has opted for a new, more visual and effective model: the referee will raise their hand for the last five seconds of the time limit and if the limit of eight seconds is exceeded, a corner kick will be awarded.

The countdown does not require the goalkeeper to be standing: it will start from the moment when the referee considers that the goalkeeper has full control of the ball with their hands or arms.

During the trials, three common behavioral patterns were analyzed:

• From 1 to 4 seconds: when the goalkeeper looks to start a counterattack.
• From 5 to 8 seconds: situations of doubt or accidental interferences.
• More than 8 seconds: deliberate retention to cool down the match.
• In some cases, retentions exceeding 20 seconds were detected, prompting the enforcement of the new rule.