A rule change trialed in the EFL last season is now being implemented in the Premier League, and Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa will need to pay special attention.
The game of football is ever-evolving, and tweaks are made to the rules in cases where it’s useful.
Howard Webb recently spoke to Sky Sports News at the official launch of the new Premier League season in Liverpool to discuss the changes being implemented this season.
Howard Webb, PGMOL Chief Refereeing Officer attends the Premier League Season 2024/25 Kick-Off
Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images for Premier League
One particular change will affect Jose Sa more than most.
New eight-second rule for goalkeepers being implemented in Premier League
The new eight-second-rule limits the length of time goalkeepers can hang onto the ball for.
As Webb explains, goalkeepers will be subject to a count from the moment they have uncontested possession of the ball.
Should the eight-second limit be reached, the opposing team will win a corner. Interestingly, after the rule was introduced to the Championship last year, no one has been penalised.
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The rule is sure to up the pace of games and prevent the more devious tacticians in net.
Jose Sa will have to let the ball go much sooner under new Premier League rules
One of Sa’s favoured moves to take the sting out of a game was to hold up play and allow the team to catch a breath.
Sa was solid last season, attracting interest from Galatasaray this summer, but Wolves value the 32-year-old at £20 million.
Jose Sa of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Sky Sports’ Nick Wright analysed the keepers’ holding times from last season, and Sa was right up there.
Sa averaged 13.1 seconds with the ball in his hands last season, the fifth-highest of any goalkeeper. The new rule will force a big change for the Portuguese stopper, and force Wolves to play out from the back with more urgency.
Whether that leads to positive outcomes is another question entirely.