Infantino Defends Hydration Breaks at World Cups

FIFA president Gianni Infantino considering making hydration breaks a permanent fixture in all future World Cup tournaments, dismissing widespread accusations that the stoppages are commercially motivated "American-style timeouts".

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Infantino insisted the rule as a necessity for competitive balance.

“The main reason is the heat, but we also have to understand that in a competition like the World Cup, played over 39 days, with teams potentially playing eight matches in those 39 days, having a moment to rest is extremely important," he said in a statement.

“What matters even more to us is ensuring that all teams, in every match, are playing under the same conditions. And it’s very difficult to accept that a coach might have the opportunity to influence a match by making adjustments simply because it’s hotter, while in another match, where the temperature is slightly lower, the same coach doesn’t have the same opportunity. We want to ensure equal conditions for everyone, and that’s why these breaks are implemented in every match.”

"If we were to use hydration breaks only in those matches where it was too hot and not in the other matches, we would give an advantage or a disadvantage to some of the coaches or some of the teams".

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Infantino said FIFA gains “absolutely nothing” from the breaks, even as the general perception is it has been implemented to beelnefit broadcasters.

“There is no additional revenue for FIFA, as all commercial agreements were signed well in advance,” he said.

“So, this is not a financial issue for us. For us, it is purely a sporting matter.”