Real Madrid Benefit from New IFAB Rule as Bounou Penalised for Time-Wasting

Real Madrid Awarded Corner After Bounou Breaches New Eight‑Second Rule

In a recent match, Real Madrid were granted a corner kick after the referee determined that Al‑Hilal’s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, had held the ball for longer than the allotted eight seconds without releasing it.

This change reflects a newly implemented ruling by the International Football Association Board (IFAB): from the 2025–26 season onward—and trialed in this summer’s Club World Cup—goalkeepers are now required to release the ball within eight seconds of gaining control. Failure to do so results in a corner kick rather than the previous penalty of an indirect free kick for holding it more than six seconds .

Under the updated law (Law 12.2), referees will assist with enforcement by visually counting down the final five seconds with raised fingers to alert the goalkeeper and their teammates . The rationale behind the amendment is to accelerate the pace of play and curb time-wasting tactics, with trials showing minimal infringement and strong compliance .