FIFA is testing a new rule for goalkeepers.

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) is testing a new rule related to goalkeepers holding onto the ball for an extended period.

The experiment of an 8-second rule with the last 5 seconds being counted by the referee is ongoing, with the consequence changing to an indirect free-kick or a corner kick if the limit is exceeded, instead of awarding an indirect free-kick inside the penalty area.

The current rule of the six-second limit to prevent goalkeepers from holding the ball for too long has been rarely enforced.

FIFA deputies felt that the reason for the current rule not being enforced lies in two aspects. Firstly, strict enforcement sometimes forced goalkeepers to release the ball while still being surrounded by opposing players.

The second aspect is that the punishment for holding the ball too long - an indirect free-kick inside the penalty area - was considered too harsh for the offense.

According to the British news agency "PA Media," there is optimism within FIFA about the experiment leading to a change in the law in the future.

However, there is a possibility that FIFA directors will agree to continue the trials in the next season, instead of changing the law for the 2025-2026 season, when they convene at the organization's annual meeting in Belfast tomorrow.

The International Federation is also expected to present a report to FIFA on the progress of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) support system, aimed at being used in competitions that do not have the resources to implement full VAR technology.

In the VAR support system, coaches can request reviews of decisions, allowing the referee to change a decision if, after viewing the available footage, they believe a clear error was made.

If the decision is changed, the coach retains two full challenges, which are lost if the original decision is upheld.