IFAB are considering altering the time-wasting and offside rules partly on the suggestion of Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger.

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Article continues below

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• IFAB considering changing time-wasting law
• Would impact goalkeepers holding onto ball
• Wenger suggests change in offside law

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per , the new time-wasting rule will see referees hand out a corner to the opponent if a goalkeeper is found holding the ball for more than eight seconds. Under the existing set of rules, the referee has the power to award an indirect free-kick to the opposition in case of time-wasting. However, this is seldom brought into effect as the game is further delayed by setting up the set play.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The new rules are currently in a test phase and have been implemented in the Premier League's Under-21 competition. They have also been experimented with in Malta and will be next tested in Italy's U20 league. If the experiment passes the test in Italy, it will be implemented in the sport across the world.

• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  Speaking to Irish FA’s chief executive, Patrick Nelson said: "The data that’s coming out of it so far is very, very interesting, in that the two trials so far have been that if the goalkeeper is holding on to the ball too long, the referee will award a corner. The instances of corners being awarded are almost non-existent, which would indicate to us, certainly looking at the data, that the deterrent is exactly what we would want it to be at this point, and it’s speeding up the goalkeepers letting go of the ball and bringing it back into play."

  He added: "The wrath of any coach for any goalkeeper who’s given away a corner or a throw-in that leads to a goal is always certainly going to mean the goalkeeper is not going to do that twice. It’s going to change goalkeeper behaviour."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  The International Football Association Board (IFAB) are also considering changing the offside rule at the suggestion of legendary former Arsenal boss Wenger, who currently serves as FIFA's chief of global football. Speaking on the developments, IFAB technical director David Elleray said: "We’re continuing to discuss those. We’re all very sympathetic to the fact that technology has removed the benefit of the doubt that used to exist.

  "We all agree that it would be nice if goals weren’t necessarily chalked off for a toenail. We’re looking at that and this trial is part of a broader look at whether there is anything we can do. We are seeing if there are ways in which we could deal with the challenges. This is part of an early debate."