The International Football Association FIFA has made changes to the rules, allowing players to perform fouls in the form of penalty shots for holding the ball by the goalkeepers in the goal for more than eight seconds. According to the current rules, goalkeepers who hold the ball for more than six seconds must give possession of the ball to the opposing team in the form of an indirect free kick; however, this rule is often ignored by referees.
Several competitions have experimented this season with allowing goalkeepers to hold the ball in the goal for a maximum of eight seconds, while at the same time, the referee signals for the last five seconds by raising their hand. After the annual meeting in Belfast, the International Football Association stated: "This change means that if a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than eight seconds (in the use of the referee's clearly visible reverse count during the last five seconds), the referee will be instructed to award a penalty against the goalkeeper (instead of the usual indirect free kick for more than six seconds)."
Furthermore, the International Council confirmed FIFA's plan to use cameras during the World Championship next year as part of direct broadcasting of matches.
