Hydration breaks booed at World Cup
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READING:
Football fans worldwide are not happy about the introduction of hydration breaks at the World Cup. Spectators in the stadiums have been expressing their dissatisfaction with the breaks in play by booing and jeering. They are not the only ones to express their consternation. Players and managers are less than happy. French manager Didier Deschamps complained about breaks disrupting the free-flowing nature and momentum of games. He said: "It's almost four quarters, and before we had two halves." Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk said that the stoppages were unnecessary. He lamented the sudden interruptions for ad breaks on TV, saying it was "not really" something he wanted in football.
Football's governing body FIFA introduced the concept of water breaks last December. It said they would be in every game, regardless of temperatures. Some games in the USA have been held under roofs, in climate-controlled conditions. Critics argue that the breaks exist primarily for commercial reasons. The BBC reported that an average 30-second World Cup ad slot on Fox Sports costs up to $750,000 during high-profile matches. Fox came back late from a commercial break during the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa. The BBC added that: "Given the financial benefits… it is highly likely that the breaks will remain a long-term feature."
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