Premier League set for major goalkeeper rule change that will impact Liverpool

Premier League set for major goalkeeper rule change that will impact Liverpool

The International Football Association Board have announced several new rules ahead of next season

The International Football Association Board has announced the new rules are set to come in next season (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images. )

Officials will award corners instead of indirect free-kicks if goalkeepers hold onto the ball for over eight seconds from the 2025/26 season onwards. The International Football Association Board has announced several law changes before next season after its 139th general meeting in Belfast.

The current rules of the games state that goalkeepers can not hold onto the ball for more than six seconds. However, it is a rule that has been difficult to enforce in the Premier League and other top leagues around Europe.

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But after a successful trial in England, Italy and Malta, IFAB has confirmed that from July 1 goalkeepers will only be allowed to hold onto the ball for six seconds. The opposition team will be awarded a corner instead of an indirect free-kick if they exceed that.

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IFAB say referees will use visual, five-second countdowns to warn goalkeepers how many seconds they have left before breaching the rules.

In 2015, Simon Mignolet was penalised for holding onto the ball for over six seconds in Liverpool's Europa League group stage clash against side Bordeaux.

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Henri Saivet scored after a pass from the resulting indirect free-kick, though Jurgen Klopp's side came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over the Ligue 1 thanks to goals from James Milner and Christian Benteke.

Meanwhile, IFAB has also announced that any competitions will be able to introduce laws that mean only captains of each team can approach the referee, as has been the case in the Premier League this season. It is a rule that was enforced at Euro 2024 last summer.

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It has also been announced that if the ball is outside the penalty area when play is stopped, it will be dropped for the team that had or would have gained possession if it is clear to the referee. If not, possession will be dropped to the team that last touched the ball.

Finally, an indirect free-kick with no disciplinary action will be awarded if a team official, substitute or substituted player who is temporarily off the field of play touches the ball as it is leaving the field and there is no intention to intervene unfairly.

IFAB has confirmed that all rules will be implemented worldwide by July 1.

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