FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the introduction of hydration breaks at the World Cup, insisting that football’s governing body believes they are motivated purely by sporting considerations and not commercial interests.
The mandatory three-minute breaks, introduced at the 22nd and 67th minutes of each tournament match, have drawn criticism from players, coaches and fans since the first round of matches.
The breaks, introduced to help players cope with high temperatures across North America, have opened up additional advertising windows for broadcasters.
This has fueled debate over its impact on the game, with some viewers complaining about being exposed to advertisements during the three-minute stoppages.
“There is no additional income for FIFA, since all commercial agreements were signed well in advance. Therefore, this is not a financial issue for us. For us it is a purely sporting issue,” Infantino said in a statement on Wednesday.
The breaks allow the coaching staff to give tactical instructions during the game, a change that critics say disrupts the momentum of the match and fundamentally alters the nature of the game.
England manager Thomas Tuchel said the extra break “disrupts and changes the identity of the football match”, while Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa said breaking matches into shorter segments removes the fundamental feature of the game.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk have supported the intention behind the rule in extreme heat, but questioned the need to implement it in colder conditions and in indoor venues.
“The main reason is the heat, but we also have to understand that in a competition like the (FIFA) World Cup, which is played over 39 days, with teams potentially playing eight games in those 39 days, having a moment to rest is extremely important,” Infantino said.
“What matters most to us is guaranteeing that all teams, in each match, play under the same conditions.
“It is very difficult to accept that a coach has the opportunity to influence a game by making adjustments simply because it is hotter, while in another game, where the temperature is slightly lower, the same coach does not have the same opportunity.”
Infantino added that the breaks had not reduced the intensity of the matches, suggesting that the players were able to maintain a high level of performance during the matches.
