Super Eagles' Stanley Nwabali holding on to the ball during AFCON in Cote d'Ivoire
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved a new rule to award corner kicks against goalkeepers holding the ball for over eight seconds.
The football rule-making body unanimously ratified the new rule on Saturday at its annual general meeting in Northern Ireland.
IFAB said the trials of rule “have shown a major positive impact where goalkeepers have been holding onto the ball for too long”.
The new law replaces the previous rule, which only punished goalkeepers with an indirect free kick for holding the ball for more than six seconds.
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The rule will come into effect on July 1, and the newly restructured Club World Cup in the US will be the first competition in which it will be tested.
IFAB announced another rule, awarding an indirect free kick to the opposition if a team official, substitute, substituted or sent-off player, or player who is temporarily off the field of play touches the ball as it leaves the field of play.
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