Hydration breaks did not impact World Cup results but future undecided, says FIFA’s Arsene Wenger

EAST RUTHERFORD – Hydration breaks introduced at the World Cup did not impact the flow of play and had no effect on match results but their future is still undecided, Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development, said on July 18.

The former Arsenal manager said FIFA would review the hydration breaks after the tournament, before taking a decision on whether to use them in future competitions.

For this World Cup, FIFA brought in three-minute hydration breaks midway through each half – regardless of the weather, even for matches played in cool conditions or under a closed roof.

It said the motivation for their introduction was a commitment to player welfare, but critics also saw it as a way to generate more income by selling advertising during the breaks in action.

Experts told the BBC that on average, a 30-second World Cup ad spot on Fox Sports in the United States cost between US$200,000 (S$258,000) and US$300,000. It rose to US$750,000 during the latter stages and when the US were in action.

Critics said the breaks, which essentially cut the game into four quarters, impacted the momentum of matches while allowing broadcasters to benefit from commercial breaks for over two minutes.

Fans booed during hydration breaks early on in the tournament.

“No,” Wenger told a press conference when asked whether they had any impact on the games.

“Sometimes they did not like them and we have to analyse after the World Cup what is the impact.

“It did not look to me that it (hydration break) changed the results of the competition. But we are here to serve people who watch football,” the Frenchman said.

During the tournament, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk supported the intent behind the rule in extreme heat, but questioned the need for it in cooler conditions and at covered venues.

England manager Thomas Tuchel said they had a bigger impact than initially anticipated and broke the moment of matches.

“It is difficult to sustain that level of physical exertion for long periods and I believe those breaks offer a brief respite to recharge and continue competing well,” said de la Fuente.

Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa, who left after their group-stage exit, was even more critical, saying the breaks had added nothing to football while destroying the sport’s cultural essence.

He said: “In my view, it adds nothing and takes away a lot. When (the match) was divided into four periods, no thought was given to the effect it might have on what makes football such a captivating sport, but instead to other repercussions.”

There were considerable differences in playing conditions during the World Cup, held across Mexico, Canada and the US, with some matches played in extreme heat and others in much cooler conditions, especially in Canada and Boston.

“In some games, it was really needed and because we did not want to make any difference between games, we decided to do it (for every match),” Wenger said.

“We will have a deep analysis after the competition.

“In some games where stadiums were covered, people were not happy with it. Medically, it was needed in many games. We have not come to a conclusion yet.”

Meanwhile, the 76-year-old Wenger insisted that the event’s expansion to 48 teams, up from 32 at the previous edition, had proven to be a success.

“It was questioned before it started but we found it was ethically needed to give a chance to more teams. I am convinced it was the right decision and it was a great success,” he said. REUTERS, AFP