Goalkeeper now has increased time for actions
Starting July 1, 2025, soccer will see some major changes in the rules. For instance, goalkeepers will now have a bit more time to control the ball – eight seconds instead of six. To make this extended period more noticeable, the referee will count the last five seconds with their hand. If the goalie goes over this limit, it's game over, and the opposing team gets a corner kick. Initially, an indirect free kick was granted for time-wasting.
To tackle interference, if a player messes with a throw-out from the goalie's hand, the goalie gets an indirect free kick. The handling of the referee's ball has also been cleared up. If the ref interrupts the game without a foul, no punishment will be handed out.
Referees are now allowed to announce their VAR decisions publicly, bringing more transparency to the matches. Assistant referees in VAR competitions should line up at the penalty spot to better catch reviewable plays. If VAR isn't used, the traditional assistant referee positioning continues.
When play gets put on hold and is restarted with a drop ball, the team that had a clear advantage before the stoppage will keep the ball after resumption. This change eliminates potential confusion or unfairness. If the possession was unclear, the ball goes to the team that last touched it.
These adjustments kick off on July 1, 2025, starting at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, and will gradually roll out in major competitions worldwide.
As per the new rules effective from July 1, 2025, football (soccer) will introduce changes to aid goalkeepers, extending their control time to eight seconds. Meanwhile, the focus on sportsmanship will see a crackdown on unnecessary delay tactics, with goalkeepers receiving an indirect free kick for exceeding the eight-second limit in football.
