Eight-second goalkeeper rule – what happens next and what our experts think

In the most recent effort to cut down on time-wasting, goalkeepers will have eight seconds from catching the ball to releasing it once more starting this summer.

By July 1st, this rule will be in effect at every level of play, from elite to amateur.

Ifab claimed that only four instances in hundreds of games had resulted in goalkeepers being punished despite the strict application of the rule during trials.

The Times was informed by Ifab technical director and former Premier League referee David Elleray that “good law changes are those that have a very strong deterrent that everyone implements and the problem effectively vanishes.”

Unfortunately, there are no Opta statistics available for this particular “dark art” metric, but you can only occasionally watch a goalkeeper catch and dive to the ground in elaborate stages.

Jason Steele, Brighton’s stopper, was an example from Elleray’s 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2023.

Rob Green, a former West Ham and England goalkeeper:

The six-second rule was in place in the past, but I don’t know why; I believe that was enough of a deterrent. They might believe that being a little more lenient might help things get going. Although it seems strange to reintroduce, I’m all for it if there is more football to be played in the 90 minutes.

It isn’t that much of a threat because there’s only a 4% chance of scoring from a corner, but at the end of the game, your team-mates want to defend a set-piece if you’re winning.

They will implement it right away, but I believe we will see it every year, and we may have the same conversation in a few years.

Paul Robinson, a former England and Tottenham goalkeeper:

These guidelines were created by people who, it is obvious, have never played the game. They are cutting corners, right?

It seems like a rule that can be strictly enforced when it first becomes effective, before being forgotten about.

Just take a moment to consider how much time was being wasted when officials decided to limit how much time was being wasted and how much is currently being added.

Additionally, it gives the impression that the keeper’s handshake could be used as a pantomime scenario during matches, with players and spectators counting the time the keeper has the ball in hand.

As Freddie Woodman held on to the ball, Burnley striker Ashley Barnes was signaling seconds on his hands as the FA Cup match against Preston approached. How many other players will try to compel the referee to enforce the new rule?

Howell, Alex

What effect will the eight-second rule have on how teams approach their build-up play?

The pressurization process could also be affected by it. Many teams typically press high to put the opposition under pressure, but knowing when the ball needs to be released in eight seconds could cause teams to advance even further and have an impact on the speed of games everywhere.

Conor McNamara

The referees will have to put this into practice, and I feel a lot of that way.

In essence, the law was intended to deter excessive holding of the ball for 20 or more seconds. Any new “measurable initiatives” will be treated with the full “offside by a toe-nail” treatment in the highly analytical world we currently live in.

The conspiracy theorists will adore it.

The poor referees will also have to start yelling five-second countdowns each and every three-second countdown a goalkeeper has received from them in order to follow the law exactly.

Semi-automated offsides may divert some of the officials’ personal insults, but with the new law in place, individual referees will once more be cut in the slack.

Alistair Bruce-Ball:

One thing is certain: despite their skill at corners, goalkeepers would be wise to avoid holding onto the ball against Arsenal next year.

I can already see arguments about the consistency with which this law is applied, despite the obvious praise for anything that stops players from wasting time.

I’m also curious if it’s something the referees will put a lot of effort into in the first few weeks before it’s forgotten, not unintentionally, and the time line starts to dwindle.

Nick Mashiter

Matz Sels of Nottingham Forest will be on alert as a result of the new eight-second rule.

Jose Sa at Wolves has also been known to slow the game down, helping his team win. The goalkeeper has been booked twice for time-wasting this season.

The focus could be better served improving the video assistant referee and avoiding lengthy delays, such as the eight-minute wait to rule out Milos Kerkez’s goal for Bournemouth against Wolves on Saturday, which only frustrate fans and further stifle the game. The Premier League is already played at a frantic pace.

John Murray :

Although it’s interesting, I’m not sure how frequently it will be used.

I have a suspicion that it is just another way to try to get more people to play while they’ve been waiting for a while.