Mike Dean lets slip Premier League rule change for Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean hinted at a possible change to a controversial goalkeeper rule next season which will impact Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham.

Goalkeepers are permitted to have the ball in their hands or when it's dead for no more than six seconds before playing it. However, frustration is often sparked with 'keepers holding on for longer than their allowed time with the rule often ignored in a ploy to slow down the game or waste time.

Andre Onana of Manchester United was arguably guilty of this during the first half at the Etihad Stadium, with his team leading thanks to a brilliant goal from Marcus Rashford.

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Manchester City fans were annoyed by how long the Cameroonian was taking, and Dean appeared to confirm a rule change for next season.

«I think they are going to up it next year to eight seconds, but I can't remember the last time a referee pulled a goalkeeper up for it,» he said during Sky Sports' coverage.

«With the goal kicks, the time starts when the ball is placed on the floor anyway. They will keep doing it until the referee tells them otherwise.»

If a goalkeeper is thought to be wasting too much time by the referee, the current rules of the game allow for the player to be given a yellow card by the match official. If a goalkeeper isn't 'time-wasting' but has held onto the ball for too long, an indirect free kick is given to the other team without any booking being issued.

The addition of time comes during a period in football with a significant period of added time. During the Qatar World Cup in 2022, there was