UEFA have introduced a rule change that will come into effect across all their competitions tonight (Wednesday, 11th June). [Henry Winter]
The tweak concerns how long a goalkeeper is allowed to hold onto the ball, and the consequences if they overstay their welcome.
Beginning with the UEFA Under-21 Championship, goalkeepers will now be penalised with a corner kick to the opposition if they hold the ball for more than eight seconds without being challenged. This replaces the previous rule which allowed six seconds, with infringement punished by an indirect free-kick. It wasnt always strictly applied.
The rule states that the eight-second count starts once the goalkeeper is in full control of the ball and no longer under any pressure. The referee will then visibly count down the final five seconds, allowing the goalkeeper to be fully aware. Should an attacker interfere or challenge during this countdown, the referee will halt it and instead award an indirect free-kick in favour of the goalkeeper.
It’s a rule that could draw serious interest in Scottish football, especially among Celtic fans, who have seen opposition goalkeepers push the limits repeatedly. In Celtic’s last home league game of the season against St Mirren, away keeper Zach Hemming was frequently criticised for his time-wasting tactics. On several occasions, Hemming held onto the ball for around 30 seconds per possession, effectively chewing through chunks of the match. [Celticbynumbers]
The new directive looks to address such frustration and speed up the tempo of games. The new rule will come into play from next season – let’s hope it’s applied consistently.
