Wolves star Jose Sa believes the Premier League’s latest rule change regarding goalkeepers is ‘strange’ as he questioned why corners will be given.
Starting from next season, shot-stoppers will be penalised if they hold onto the ball for longer than eight seconds.
If they do so, a corner will be awarded to the attacking team.
At present, Law 12.2 states that a goalkeeper has six seconds to release the ball before the opposing team is awarded an indirect free-kick.
While the rule has been introduced to prevent goalkeepers from timewasting, Sa says that the change is a little bit confusing.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, the Wolves No. 1 said: “It’s strange because you have the ball in your hand and it’s a corner.
“I agree, an indirect free-kick would make more sense, but for me it’s what they want.
“We 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.”
The new eight-second goalkeeper rule will come into force from July 1.
It will be implemented at every level of the game worldwide, including the Premier League and all levels of the English football pyramid.
Fans will get their first glimpse of the new rule at this summer’s Club World Cup.
Reflecting on the rule change, former England goalkeeper Rob Green remarked: “Back in the day there was the six-second rule and that has slowly faded away – I don’t know why – I think that was enough of a deterrent.
“Maybe they are thinking the punishment being a bit more lenient may get things going.
“It seems a strange one to reintroduce, but if we can get more football in the 90 minutes then I’m all for it.
“As a percentage there’s only around a four per cent chance of scoring from a corner so it isn’t that much of a threat.
“But at the end of the game, the last thing your team-mates want to do is defend a set-piece if you’re winning.
“I think we see it every year, they will implement it right from the start, but in a couple of years’ time we may be having this same conversation.”
