IFAB trial in Malta: 8 second referee countdown rule to force goalkeepers to release the ball is very successful due to corner kick deterrent. 796 occasions and they have never exceeded eight seconds. Could yellow card + corner kick be good enough deterrent to stamp out tactical foul?

“The instances of corners being awarded are almost non-existent, which would indicate to us, certainly looking at the data, that the deterrent is exactly what we would want it to be at this point, and it’s speeding up the goalkeepers letting go of the ball and bringing it back into play.”

In the Malta trial, the ball has been held by goalkeepers on 796 occasions and they have never exceeded eight seconds. Under the Italian trial, a throw-in will be awarded instead of a corner but that is seen as less of a deterrent. “The wrath of any coach for any goalkeeper who’s given away a corner or a throw-in that leads to a goal is always certainly going to mean the goalkeeper is not going to do that twice,” Nelson added. “It’s going to change goalkeeper behaviour.”

Would football fans want tactical fouls be significantly reduced?

A "tactical foul" in football is generally considered bad for the game because it disrupts the flow of play, can be seen as unsportsmanlike, and can lead to a team gaining an unfair advantage by intentionally committing a foul to stop a dangerous attack, even if it results in a yellow card or penalty against them; essentially prioritizing stopping the opponent over playing the ball fairly.