The decision comes as a response to goalkeepers keeping the ball in their grasp longer than the currently permitted six seconds.

As it stands, Law 12.2 states that an indirect free-kick is to be awarded if a goalkeeper “controls the ball with the hand/arm for more than six seconds before releasing it”.

A statement released by the IFAB on Friday read: “The IFAB has unanimously decided to amend Law 12.2 (Indirect free kick).

"The amendment means that if a goalkeeper holds the ball for longer than eight seconds (with the referee using a visual five-second countdown), the referee will award a corner kick to the opposing team (rather than the current indirect free kick for more than six seconds).

taken from https://www.sportbible.com/football/...79876-20250301