IFAB going ahead with the new rule for GKs after trials in Malta and Premier League 2 were proven successful. It was accepted that refs and GKs were ignoring the 6 second rule. New rule: Ref raises hand after 3 seconds, then counts down 5 more seconds. Formal change expected for 2026/27 season
This is one of those things that has always annoyed me. Nobody ever enforces the rule, and every single GK breaks the rule nearly every single time they grab the ball.
I have seen it enforced once and only once. It was the last minute of a preseason friendly, and cost my team a 1-0 lead, as the other team scored (indirectly) from the resulting free kick. I couldn’t believe the ref would choose then to apply a rule so commonly ignored.
The only time I’ve seen it enforced was in the Womens World Cup final between Canada and the US, against the Canadian GK who had been warned twice already that game for it. The rest of the world was furious, but it was the correct call… and after two warnings it was also the “right” call.
Which is what happens when refs decide to warn people instead of just follow the laws of the game. It’s so frustrating!
