How the new eight-second rule for goalkeepers works – and why Chelsea & Man City must take note

A new rule affecting goalkeepers will come into play worldwide at all levels this summer, with the goal of reducing time-wasting tactics. But how does it work, when will it come into force, what will its impact be, and why are Chelsea and Manchester City among the first to be affected?

How does the new eight-second rule work?

Once the rule, which has been introduced by international law-making board IFAB, comes into effect, goalkeepers will have eight seconds to release the ball after catching it.

It’s similar to a previous version of the rule which required goalkeepers to release the ball within six seconds of taking possession of it, a law which was sporadically enforced and eventually forgotten about.

Under the old rule, an indirect free-kick was to be awarded to the opposing team – a harsh punishment given that such offences typically took place inside the penalty area, which may have discouraged referees from strictly enforcing the rule. With this new rule, a corner would be awarded to the opposition instead, and it’s hoped that a more lenient punishment will help referees to enforce it with less backlash.

Referees will be expected to keep track of the time a goalkeeper retains possession of the ball and are to signal with a raised hand when five second are remaining, counting the remaining time down on their fingers.

The rule will apply at all levels of the game, from elite competition down to grassroots amateur football. During trials, which took place internationally, IFAB claim that only four goalkeepers were actually punished under the new rule, with the general response being that goalkeepers would speed play up in order to avoid conceding a corner, a punishment which former Premier League referee David Elleray, who is not technical director of IFAB, described as a “very strong deterrent.”

When does the rule come into force – and who will at affect first?

The new rule comes into effect from 1 July worldwide, meaning that it will first be in force in the Premier League from the beginning of the 2025/26 season – but Chelsea and Manchester City will have to adapt to it a little sooner.

That’s because the eight-second rule will also be used during the revamped Club World Cup, which starts on 15 June and runs through until 13 July. FIFA seems to have decided not to have a new rule appear midway through the tournament, which now features 32 teams and which will be played every four years. Chelsea and City are the two English teams which have qualified for the 2025 edition, which will be hosted in the USA, thanks to their Champions League successes in 2021 and 2023 respectively.

The tournament, which is the pet project of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, has been beset by issues with sponsors, broadcast rights and prize money, but FIFA hope that it will provide a new showpiece event at club level. Chelsea get their campaign underway against Mexican side Léon on 16 June, while Manchester City play their first group stage game against Moroccan outfit Wydad Casablanca two days later.

Will the eight-second rule work?

The big question, of course, is whether the new rule will work – and whether it will stick around, with the old six-second rule being largely forgotten in recent years after its introduction.

Former England goalkeeper Robert Green told the BBC that “if we can get more football in the 90 minutes then I'm all for it”, but it remains to be seen whether the new rule will significantly speed matches up, or whether its enforcement will prove controversial.

Referees being required to count down will put a significant extra burden on officials, especially when secondary incidents interfere with the five-second count. It is currently unclear how the rule will be enforced if, for instance, a goalkeeper is injured (or claims to be injured) in the process of claiming the ball, and it may be a challenge for referees to enforce the rule evenly under such circumstances.

Currently, the only real deterrent for goalkeepers when holding on to the ball is the threat of a yellow card for time wasting – Nottingham Forest’s first choice Matz Sels has twice been booked for the offence this season – but the prospect of conceding a corner, combined with a visual countdown for the whole stadium to see may encourage the speeding up of play.

The greatest challenge, however, will be maintaining even enforcement of the rule over time. The six-second rule is among many addendums to the game’s laws which have fallen by the wayside over time, such as automatic yellow cards for any form of disagreement with the referee, a rule which was introduced a few years ago but swiftly ignored by officials as is it proven to be unsustainable.