"If the referee considers that a throw-in or goal kick is taking too long or being deliberately delayed, a five-second visual countdown will be initiated. If the ball is not in play at the end of the countdown, the throw-in will be awarded to the opposing team, while a delayed goal kick will result in a corner kick being awarded to the opponents."
"Last year's introduction of an eight-second rule for goalkeepers holding on to the ball has had a positive impact on the game and put the responsibility back on the players. So this is a positive progression that will apply across the pitch."
The International Football Association Board has approved significant rule changes effective July 1 and applicable to the 2026 World Cup. VAR can now optionally check corners, and its core protocol expands to cover second yellow cards and cards awarded to wrong teams. New measures address tactics that disrupt match tempo. A five-second countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks will be enforced, with possession awarded to the opposing team if the ball isn't in play. This builds on last year's eight-second goalkeeper rule, placing responsibility on players to maintain game flow. Physical issues from corners were not deemed serious enough for intervention.
Read at ESPN.com
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