New ruling to prevent keeper time-wasting next season

HOLDING THE BALL TOO LONG WILL INCUR A CORNER

- By BARRY COOPER

A new rule to prevent goalkeepers from timewasting has now come into force, which will have an impact on Hull City when they kick off the new Championship campaign in just under two months.

Goalkeepers will now concede a corner for holding onto the ball for too long.

The new law will see shot-stoppers permitted to hold onto the ball for a total of eight seconds instead of six.

If they fail to release the ball inside eight seconds, the referee will award a corner against their team.

The previous law saw goalkeepers forced to release the ball inside six seconds, otherwise an indirect free-kick was awarded against them.

However, that law was rarely enforced by referees in the English game and led to significant frustration from the terraces.