Tottenham benefit from new Premier League rule as Burnley star red-faced

Burnley's Martin Dubravka has become the first goalkeeper in Premier League history to be penalised under new rules designed to curb time-wasting.

During Burnley's defeat against Tottenham, Dubravka conceded a corner after holding onto the ball for more than eight seconds. This season has seen several rule changes, with referees now tasked with giving goalkeepers a countdown to release the ball, awarding a corner if they fail to do so in time.

The incident took place early in the game, which Spurs easily won 3-0, thanks to a double from Richarlison and a goal from Brennan Johnson. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) approved the rule change earlier this year, and it was implemented at the Club World Cup.

FIFA's head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, spoke positively about the change after the tournament: "It was very successful; the tempo of the match was improved. We had no time lost by goalkeepers keeping the ball between their hands for a very long time - as happened quite often in matches before.

"The purpose was not to give corner kicks, but to prevent the eight seconds rule from being ignored. The purpose was 100% achieved."

Ahead of the new Premier League season, PGMOL boss Howard Webb explained the rationale behind the change: "It's quite a radical change, really, but the basic idea is to get the ball back into play more quickly.

"It's meant to be preventative, not punitive. Like in other sports - if you play tennis at Wimbledon, you have to serve within a certain amount of seconds."

However, West Ham's vice-chairman Karren Brady has expressed her disapproval of the rule change, labelling it as "daft tinkering" in a column for the Sun. Brady penned: "What was wrong with the old rule which gave keepers six seconds to release, with punishment in the form of an indirect free-kick?"

"Beats me. It was hardly ever enforced anyway. The body which has come up with this latest daft tinkering, I meant well-researched brainstorm, the International Football Association Board, must have spent ages on it.

"Probably in a well-stocked five-star hotel somewhere near FIFA's Swiss Alps headquarters. The purpose of this newest change is to cut down on time-wasting but how can extending possession from six to eight seconds do that?

"And also the fact that the 'old' rule was almost never imposed surely means it was a good rule. A bit like competent refereeing, if you don't know they are there, chances are the official is doing a decent job."