A goalkeeper holding the ball for more than eight seconds will be punished with a corner for the opposition from this summer. The new law was unanimously approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) at its annual general meeting in Northern Ireland on Saturday, and will be in place at Fifa's Club World Cup, which takes place in the USA from 15 June to 13 July. Under the current law keepers should be punished if they hold the ball for more than six seconds, with the opposition being awarded an indirect free-kick. But the CEO of the Football Association of Wales (FAW) Noel Mooney said implementation of the six-second rule had "dissolved over time" and it is hoped that the new law will lead to a reduction in time wasting. Already trialled in over 400 games in three different competitions, including the Premier League 2, referees will also warn the goalkeepers with a five-second countdown before they are penalised. Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom said: "We had the test and the test was very successful. The referees didn't have to signal for a corner [often]." The IFAB also voted to continue offside trials in which the attacker will be ruled onside if his torso is level with the second to last defender.

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Tehran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi visits Saudi Arabia for the first time after Iran’s 12-day war with Israel. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Jeddah in the first visit by a top Iranian official to the Gulf kingdom after Israel’s war with Tehran. Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Araghchi’s talks with Prince Mohammed and other Saudi officials on Tuesday were “fruitful”. The visit after the 12-day intense conflict between Israel and Iran, which saw the United States bomb three Iranian nuclear facilities before mediating a ceasefire, suggests that the war did not derail the rapprochement between Tehran and Riyadh. Saudi Arabia’s official news agency, SPA, said Araghchi and Prince Mohammed “reviewed bilateral relations and discussed the latest regional developments and the efforts being made in that regard”. “The Crown Prince expressed the Kingdom’s aspiration that the ceasefire agreement would contribute to creating conditions that promote security and stability in the region, emphasizing the Kingdom’s stance in supporting dialogue through diplomatic means as a path to resolving disputes,” SPA said. It added that Araghchi expressed his gratitude to the kingdom for “condemning the Israeli aggression”. The top Iranian diplomat also met with Saudi Minister of Defence Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. Israel launched a massive bombardment against Iran on June 13, without direct provocation, killing top military commanders and nuclear scientists as well as hundreds of civilians. Iran retaliated with missile barrages that left widespread destruction in Israel. After the US targeted Iran’s nuclear sites, Tehran responded with a missile launch against a US airbase in Qatar. Shortly after that attack, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. While Arab countries condemned the attack as a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, Iran appears to be pushing to repair relations with Gulf states. Ties between Tehran and Riyadh were strained for years over disagreements around regional conflicts and mutual accusations of spreading instability. But the two countries agreed to restore formal relations as part of a deal brokered by China in 2023, and top Saudi and Iranian officials have been in regular contact. Before the outbreak of the recent war, Saudi Arabia had welcomed Iran’s nuclear talks with the US, saying it supported efforts to resolve regional and international disputes. On Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he believed Tehran could resolve its differences with the US through dialogue, but trust would be an issue after the attacks on his country. In an article published by the Financial Times earlier on Tuesday, Araghchi accused Israel of preferring conflict over diplomacy. “Iran remains interested in diplomacy, but we have good reason to have doubts about further dialogue,” he wrote. “If there is a desire to resolve this amicably, the US should show genuine readiness for an equitable accord.” Follow Al Jazeera English:...

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