Tottenham Hotspur defeated Burnley 3-0 on the first matchday of the English Premier League last night. Richarlison scored twice in the opening match of the new season. The Brazilian forward scored after four months. In addition, the match marked the debut of Thomas Frank in the league as the club’s head coach.
But the match witnessed something bigger than these. Today, the Premier League gave birth to a historic event, which will be more important and memorable than the first time. For the first time in the 137-year history of the English top league, the ‘eight-second rule’ has been implemented. And Tottenham is the first beneficiary of this new rule.
The incident occurred just three minutes into the match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London. Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravaka kept the ball in his possession for more than eight seconds. As a punishment, referee Michael Oliver gave Tottenham a corner kick.
In the main match, Dubravaka gloved a cross that came into his own box. He then waited for his teammates and opponents to move away and kept the ball under his control, bouncing it and killing time. He then took a long kick, just as referee Olivier blew the whistle and awarded Tottenham a corner.
The Tottenham coach applauded the referee’s decision. But most of the spectators in the stadium were unaware of the new rules, as evidenced by their reactions caught on TV cameras. Burnley goalkeeper Dubravakar also seemed to have no idea about this law of football. However, Tottenham could not take advantage of the corner.
Goalkeepers often wasted time by keeping the ball in their possession. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has come up with a new rule to address this issue. The rule proposes that if a goalkeeper keeps the ball in their possession for more than eight seconds, the opposing team will be given a corner kick as a penalty.
The rule was approved by the IFAB meeting last March and is set to come into effect from the 2025-26 season. The rule was first applied by referee Oliver after Dubravaka held onto the ball for 14 seconds. The 62,000 spectators at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium witnessed the historic event.
FAQ
What was the final score between Tottenham and Burnley?
Tottenham Hotspur defeated Burnley 3-0 in their opening match of the Premier League season.
Who scored for Tottenham in the match?
Brazilian forward Richarlison scored twice, while another goal sealed the 3-0 victory for Spurs.
What is the new ‘Eight-Second Rule’ introduced in the Premier League?
The rule states that if a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than eight seconds, the opposing team is awarded a corner kick.
How was the rule applied during the Tottenham vs Burnley game?
Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka held the ball for 14 seconds, leading referee Michael Oliver to award Tottenham a corner under the new rule.
