The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved changes to the Laws of the Game, effective from the 2025/26 season.
According to IFAB the new updates aim to improve game flow and fairness. Consequently, goalkeepers will now face a corner kick if they hold the ball for more than eight seconds, instead of an indirect free kick.
This change follows successful trials that demonstrated a positive impact on the game.The updates were announced at the 139th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of The IFAB, hosted by the Irish Football Association (IFA) in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The International Football Association Board is an international self-regulatory body of association football that is known for determining the Laws of the Game, the regulations for the gameplay of football.