IFAB Law Changes for 2025/26
- Thread starter MarcusSFARef
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Not sure where you worked that out from, it is for all levels.
I think people need to differentiate between what is guidance on laws and a changed law. This is one of the biggest changes since the back pass law came in, and referees didn’t just apply that for a few months then give up on it did they?
socal lurker
RefChat Addict
totally disagree with this. What the countdown does—at all levels—is make clear to both tems that the R is counting the time. The GK can see it and knows that he has 5 seconds left. And the other team knows the GK only has 5 seconds left. So it puts pressure on the R to actually call it. Sure, the R will likely not call if the GK is in kicking or throwing motion as the time expires, but it will be hard not to call when time expires and the GK is just standing there. And has been oft discussed, the CK is much, much easier to manage than an IFK in the PA, so it creates less disincentive for the R to call. I’m usually an IFAB skeptic, but I think this is going to stick in terms of not having GKs hold the ball for 20+ seconds.
one
RefChat Addict
Not read all 8 pages so not sure if this was discussed before.
My concern is at levels/games that the referee is not watched/scrutinised, mostly at grassroots, the 3 seconds before the count starts could tale a lot longer. It would be the tendency that she/he is going to release it soon so no need for me to do the YMCA. Only when the referee realises (after 6 or 7 seconds) that the keeper is not going to release it they start the visible count. Time will tell.
My concern is at levels/games that the referee is not watched/scrutinised, mostly at grassroots, the 3 seconds before the count starts could tale a lot longer. It would be the tendency that she/he is going to release it soon so no need for me to do the YMCA. Only when the referee realises (after 6 or 7 seconds) that the keeper is not going to release it they start the visible count. Time will tell.
I think they should have added that opposition players have the leave the penalty area when the ball is in the goalkeepers hands. My concern is that when a keeper is grounded, or even stood with the ball in their hands they’ll have an attacker lingering around trying to stop the ball being released. With such a big law change for keepers it would be good to give them a clear opportunity to release the ball without pressure
one
RefChat Addict
Preventing the keeper from releasing the ball is an IDF kick offence. Plus, don't start the count until the keeper has the opportunity to release the ball.
Russell Jones
RefChat Addict
Not starting the count until the GK has that opportunity is eminently sensible. But not (yet) part of the laws. I’m all in favour of the overall change (and a firm believer it will overall work well at all levels of the game), but I believe the knock on implications and ramifications for enforcement of the ‘preventing release’ piece have been underestimated.
betterlatethannever
New Member
From what I understand, it is when 'in the opinion of the referee' the keeper has control of the ball. This includes when in the last few minutes they dive on a ball that they could have just picked up.
It means the count starts then and keepers are not allowed 10+ seconds before they even stand up - I will be starting the count a second after they have jumped on it - no more messing about!
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one
RefChat Addict
And many more loopholes they will find to use and push those seconds. And as already mentioned attackers will also use loopholes to try and get a corner out of it. The law is new.
For me, as referees we (should) have two 'go to's; understanding the intent of the law and common sense. I must stress, neither should be used for excuses for just making up what we think should happen. .
socal lurker
RefChat Addict
The outdated USSF Advice to Referees included something along the lines of interfering with the GK as a flavor of USB. I’d like to see that adopted by IFAB. There is no legitimate reason for a player to mess with the GK with the ball. The Laws say the GK can’t be challenged in possession—yet the IFK only refers to preventing the release. It needs some cleanup, especially with the new 8 second rule.
ChasObserverRefDeveloper
Regular Contributor
"Impedes the progress of an opponent" fits the bill
socal lurker
RefChat Addict
Unfortunately a bit of a stretch right now, as Law 12 explains it is an offense when the ball is not within playing distance of either player—tough to argue it’s not in playing distance of the keeper who is holding it!"Impedes the progress of an opponent" fits the bill
ChasObserverRefDeveloper
Regular Contributor
Players won't know that
Peter Grove
RefChat Addict
I'm not sure I'm trying to make a point. I'm just stating facts as to what happened in the trials. I'm not drawing any conclusions or making any prognostications based on that.
Or perhaps, as I think a bit more about it, the main point I'm tending towards is simply that perhaps we shouldn't prejudge the outcome.
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ChasObserverRefDeveloper
Regular Contributor
Interesting example in PSG v Atletico Madrid in the World Club Cup yesterday.
one
RefChat Addict
That to me was right on the edge of keeper's lack of awareness and attacker pushing the limits of the law around what they can/can't do around keepers.Interesting example in PSG v Atletico Madrid in the World Club Cup yesterday.
Same game, it's never a good look, in fact its a pretty bad look when the referee doesn't know a player is on a yellow card before showing a second yellow, or at least not knowing immediately after it.
He definitely didn't know he'd already cautioned him, took far too long for the red to come out for him to have known. Given the second caution was for dissent I'm almost certain he wouldn't have shown it if he had realised.
Part of me thinks it isn't that surprising, Istvan Kovacs has such a high card count I can understand why he has forgotten who he gave them to.
socal lurker
RefChat Addict
Agree on both points. On the GK release, the opponent doesn’t actively stick out his foot or do something else obvious, but doesn’t seem any reason to be running where h was except the hope he can slow down or block the GK. But in the current language of “preventing” the GK from releasing the ball, easy to see why it was a no call by the R.
And that 2CT was shocking in how long it took to get to the red. Whether it really should be a different standard on a dissent 2CT is an interesting question, but I think the reality is that the game expects it to be. But I don’t know we can say he butchered it without knowing what was actually said. (And I don’t have a lot of sympathy for a player who was already cautioned for dissent in the game.)
Peter Grove
RefChat Addict
I haven't watched any of the games in the Club World Cup so far (not sure I will, either) but are there any trends emerging as regards the goalkeepers and referees behaviour related to the new 8 second rule? Are keepers releasing the ball quicker, have any referees given corners yet, etc?
I see above that there was something in the PSG vs Atletico game but that appears to have been more to do with an outfield player's interaction with the keeper?
I see above that there was something in the PSG vs Atletico game but that appears to have been more to do with an outfield player's interaction with the keeper?
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