Exclusive: Arsenal and Aston Villa stars could be peer-pressured after rule change
Arsenal and Aston Villa players could begin peer-pressuring their goalkeepers due to a new time-wasting rule ahead of the new Premier League season, according to Keith Hackett.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider officials need to enforce the new law that goalkeepers will give away a corner when holding onto the ball for longer than eight seconds.
OPTA reported in September 2024, four games into the 2024/25 season, that the Gunners topped the list for biggest time-wasters, with the Villans placing fifth in the division.
Rightly or wrongly, David Raya and Emi Martinez are considered infamous for frustrating opposition supporters, especially when it comes to keeping hold of the ball, but that will no longer be an option for the pair.
David Raya and Emi Martinez to suffer under new law
Many goalkeepers in the Premier League are talented when it comes to time-wasting, including Everton’s Jordan Pickford, and it has become a significant part of the sport.
However, it often leaves match-going supporters of both teams disappointed and frustrated, which is exactly why the new law is being enforced ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) have received positive reviews from trials across England, Italy and Malta, bringing the new law into effect across all levels of the game.
Premier League players to peer-pressure goalkeepers into using the ball
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “Let’s face it – they’ve got eight seconds. It doesn’t matter if they’ve got the ball in their hands, or between their hand and the floor. Either way, they’re in possession.
“The clock starts ticking, the spectators see the referee’s raised hand, and I think what is important is that the referees apply this law 100 per cent, across all levels of the game.
“Goalkeepers need to be made aware. In pre-season, I set up three separate meetings for Premier League meetings, and they had to attend one of these meetings, so there were no excuses.
“It’s then up to the managers to notice these vulnerabilities. Referees will be forensic in their timings, and if they’re caught, it’s a corner kick. Hopefully, the goalkeepers will be peer-pressured by the teammates around them.”