Video assistant referees

The International Football Association Board: The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved several notable changes to the Laws of the Game for the 2025/26 season. One of the most impactful amendments targets the issue of time-wasting, where goalkeepers often hold onto the ball for extended periods.

Previously, if a goalkeeper held the ball for more than six seconds, an indirect free kick was awarded to the opposing team. However, following a series of successful trials, the IFAB has decided to increase this threshold to eight seconds.

“After trials have shown a major positive impact where goalkeepers have been holding onto the ball for too long, The IFAB has unanimously decided to amend Law 12.2 (Indirect free kick). 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),” read the statement by IFAB.