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The other thing that came out of '82 through '90 World Cups was the backpass (to the keeper) rule.

When teams were ahead in a game, especially in the knockout matches, would waste time by passing the ball back to the keeper, who would pick it up, hold it, then throw it to a player. This would be repeated many times until the clock ran out.

Now, the keeper cannot handle the ball with his hands from a foot pass or throw-in, although he can from a ball directed to him with a header.

Also, back then, the keeper could hold the ball for a long time. He was limited to "four" steps (rarely called) unless he bounced the ball off the ground. Now the keeper is not limited to a number of steps but to a set time (six seconds). This was the rule exploited by the US in the women's Olympic match against Canada, when the ref was pressured into calling a foul by Abby Wambach counting out loud near the ref. This is a rule for which warnings are sometimes given but it is *never* called.



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