Foul can be a half-year suspension (8)
I believe the answer is:
abeyance
'suspension' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'foul can be a half-year' is the wordplay.
'foul' indicates anagramming the letters.
'half' indicates taking half.
'year' with half the letters taken is 'ye'.
'can'+'be'+'a'+'ye'='canbeaye'
'canbeaye' is an anagram of 'ABEYANCE'.
(Other definitions for abeyance that I've seen before include "State of temporary cessation" , "Adjournment" , "Recess" , "State of temporary disuse" , "Temporary pause - suspension" .)