FIFA defends hydration breaks despite England-Ghana injury stoppage, Tuchel criticism

MIAMI - FIFA says a hydration break was called in the England versus Ghana game to ensure "equal conditions” for all teams - even though play had been halted for head injuries minutes earlier, reported PA Media/dpa.

The breaks, which have been criticised by England head coach Thomas Tuchel and consistently booed by England fans, have been introduced for all World Cup matches by FIFA for these finals in North America for player welfare reasons.

Their necessity in all matches - including those played in air-conditioned venues such as Dallas - has been questioned, and there appeared to be no need for one during Tuesday night's England match, as play had already been halted around the 20-minute mark following a clash of heads between Reece James and Jordan Ayew.

In the 26th minute referee Said Martinez called a hydration break. 

FIFA said hydration breaks are implemented "involving all teams in every match, so matches are played under the same conditions”.

A spokesperson added: "We want to ensure equal conditions for everyone and that’s why these breaks are implemented in every match.”

Tuchel has been critical of the breaks and said prior to the Ghana game: "I think that it interrupts and changes the identity of a football match much more than I thought. I had hydration breaks before when it was really, really hot and needed, but they were shorter. It breaks the match almost in four quarters.

The breaks have had their supporters too, with France and Brazil coaches Didier Deschamps and Carlo Ancelotti both in favour.

Deschamps said: "You can get the players close to you and this gives you an opportunity to adjust a couple of things as regards the 22-23 minutes of game that just took place.

"With the high temperatures, it’s important to be able to give this extra opportunity, two opportunities to the head coach. It’s a good thing - this is a fact, but it leads us to split the game and if you’re in a strong position, after this break, you must start playing again. But we adapt to it, even in our prep work we’ve anticipated.”

Ancelotti said: "You can explain a problem to the players and make a tactical adjustment that can be very good.”

Some medical experts even believe the breaks are too short, with Douglas Casa, the chief executive of the Korey Stringer Institute that develops practical strategies to prevent sudden death in sport, recommending up to a six-minute break per half. - BERNAMA