World Cup Hydration Breaks

In my opinion, these are a disgrace just to get extra advertising revenue and they disrupt the flow of the game.

They should only happen if there is obvious discomfort (both captains to agree).

Opinions?

I agree, seems like a ploy for the US networks to show ads without having to wait for half time.

Or it could be so ITV can show that fat chick in the kitchen to show women know the offside rule

z3r010 said:

I agree, seems like a ploy for the US networks to show ads without having to wait for half time.

Or it could be so ITV can show that fat chick in the kitchen to show women know the offside rule

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And she has no idea what she is prattling on about.

ITV - she is pathetic. Ditch her now.

FIFA is responsible for the breaks...the broadcasters are responsible for the extra commercials

A Guy

A Guy said:

FIFA is responsible for the breaks...the broadcasters are responsible for the extra commercials

A Guy

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FIFA, not exactly an organization known for not taking bribes

Mon dieu! Say it isn't so! But the FIFA Peace Prize!

A Guy

Due to rare hot weather where UK is hotter than Boston, England have decided to forgo the hydration breaks provided the English fans in UK take a hydration break instead.

Both a disgrace and a shame that they've thrown such "hydration breaks" just to show more ads. The fact that they're mandatory for every match is terrible for the sport as a whole.

Not only for the blatant made up ad placement space (which FIFA definitely planed this way) but because it's also a departure of the sport regular gameplay that all players and fans are used to. Not only it breaks the natural game rhythm, it can break player concentration and fundamentally start a new game from there, like dividing the match in fourths instead of halves. They even reached the point where referees were ready to resume play, but had to wait until the TV emission finished the ads. This is pure embarrasment. Obviously helped by the fact that this world cup is organized by a country with very little football culture to begin with.

Moreover, the official excuse is that get some relief for the high temperatures. Not all matches had high temperatures, yet all have mandated breaks (even if it rained during the match?). In Mexico temperatures where around 25°C mostly, Canada has some similar too, perfectly comfortable for professional players. Even some United States' cities had some 30 to 35 degrees, hot but not unplayable.
For a world cup where hot temperatures where really a problem, look at Qatar 2022. They moved the whole thing to November/December instead of June/July to cope with this.

There already were boos for quite a few games on the pauses, it's not a popular thing among players or fans. Some coaches take advantage of this for giving indications, but again, this is not how football is played.

In Argentina local league there were instances of such breaks. Only happening in the summer matches and only then when the temperatures were extreme, not planned in advance months ago. And during that time, the TV broadcast just showed the players and the field, not artificial ads. Only some radio emissions took the chance to mention their sponsors, just because they have no image at all to show. But again, those breaks are made on demand, when there is a physical need.
Such breaks aren't completely news, but not like this for commercial purposes in detriment of the game, but (really) for the wellness of the players and referees.