The U21 European Championship comes up with an exciting control innovation.
As the European Football Union (UEFA) announced shortly before the tournament start, the new time game rule for goalkeepers is used at the final round in Slovakia.
It will also be used at the club World Cup, which begins on Saturday (June 14, 2025, local time) in the USA. From July 1st, the new rule will then be anchored in the global rules, so it will then apply in Germany from the Bundesliga down to the district league D.
If there is a violation of
The rule keepers of the International Football Association Boards (ifab) approved the rule 12.2 on March 1st. She says that the referee has to award a corner of a team if the opposing goalkeeper lasts the ball for more than eight seconds. So far, an indirect free kick had been whistled after six seconds.
Referee shows Countdown
According to the new rule, the referee must count the last five of the eight seconds visibly as countdown. Before he uses the rule, a goalkeeper must have the ball completely under control and no longer put pressure on opponents.
The countdown is stopped if opposing players approach the goalkeeper. The keeper is then awarded an indirect free kick.