Football’s lawmakers have announced another rule change that looks set to come into effect in the 2025/26 campaign.
Goalkeepers will be impacted most, with Jose Sa and Wolves needing to take note ahead of the new season.
Sa is the preferred choice between the posts for Vitor Pereira, although Sam Johnstone’s excellent display against Bournemouth suggests his position is at risk.
While there is an ongoing battle between the two shot-stoppers, they’ll both be impacted by the IFAB’s major rule change involving goalkeepers.
Starting from next season, a corner will be awarded if a goalkeeper holds onto the ball for more than eight seconds. Currently, Law 12.2 states that a goalkeeper has six seconds to release the ball before the opposing team is awarded an indirect free-kick.
The rule has been amended to prevent goalkeepers from timewasting, and Sa has now offered his verdict on the alteration.
What Jose Sa finds ‘strange’ about goalkeeper rule change
Sa isn’t someone who has been scrutinised for time wasting, but despite this, he doesn’t agree with one aspect of the change.
The Portuguese international believes an indirect free-kick should be awarded instead of a corner, though he does accept why the law has been altered.
“It’s strange because you can have the ball in your hand and then it’s a corner. I think it should be an indirect free kick – I think that makes more sense,” Sa told Wolves’ official site.
“But that is what they want and you just need to follow the rules. It’s not difficult to just not keep the ball so many seconds into your hand. It’s okay.”
Sa’s thoughts on the upcoming run of fixtures
Since the rule change only comes into effect in 2025/26, Wolves don’t have to worry until then, but they will be concerned about their position in the table.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 15 |  West HamWest Ham | 27 | 9 | 6 | 12 | 32 | 47 | -15 | 33 |
| 16 |  EvertonEverton | 27 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 30 | 34 | -4 | 32 |
| 17 |  WolvesWolves | 27 | 6 | 4 | 17 | 37 | 56 | -19 | 22 |
| 18 |  IpswichIpswich | 27 | 3 | 8 | 16 | 26 | 57 | -31 | 17 |
| 19 |  LeicesterLeicester | 27 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 25 | 61 | -36 | 17 |
Wolves do have a five-point buffer on 18th-place Ipswich Town, although Matheus Cunha’s suspension will impact their performance.
With Everton, Southampton, West Ham and Ipswich to come in their next four, Pereira’s men have reached a massive point in their campaign and it could decide whether they pull away from danger or get dragged back into it.
Speaking ahead of their clash against Everton, Sa has said: “These games can define where we finish and if we finish with a battle against relegation – but it depends on the other results too.
“We don’t want to continue in the relegation battle until the end of the season, but I think the next seven games will be very important for us.”
Having been involved in relegation battles previously, Sa is aware of the importance of these upcoming games, and he will need to be at his best.