Infantino Defends Hydration Breaks: FIFA Gains Nothing

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the mandatory hydration breaks implemented in all World Cup matches, attributing them solely to the prevailing heat. He asserted that the measure is applied uniformly across all games.

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The reason for these breaks is clearly the heat.

"The reason for these breaks is clearly the heat," Infantino explained in an interview with EFE in New York. He added that in a World Cup featuring eight matches in 39 days, having a moment to rest is crucial for the players. Infantino stressed the importance of consistency, stating, "It is very difficult to accept that a coach has the possibility to influence a game by correcting something because it is hot, and in another where it is a little less hot, he does not have the same opportunity. That is why in all matches there are these breaks."

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in a World Cup featuring eight matches in 39 days, having a moment to rest is crucial for the players.

Addressing suspicions that the interruptions might serve commercial or television interests, Infantino was firm. "FIFA gains absolutely nothing from this. All contracts were already signed before, so it is not an economic issue; for us, it is a purely sporting issue," he stated.

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It is very difficult to accept that a coach has the possibility to influence a game by correcting something because it is hot, and in another where it is a little less hot, he does not have the same opportunity. That is why in all matches there are these breaks.