Hydration breaks heat up World Cup debate with players, coaches split on new rule

MIAMI, June 15 : FIFA's mandatory three-minute hydration breaks in World Cup matches are proving as controversial as they are cooling, with players split over interruptions that some say kill the flow of the game while coaches embrace them as tactical timeouts.

The breaks were introduced after the sweltering Club World Cup in the United States last year when soaring temperatures and oppressive humidity fuelled concerns among players, coaches and fans.

Matches will have hydration breaks taken around the 22nd minute in each half and the rule essentially breaks the game down into four quarters.

"I think hydration breaks are a bit interesting because I was obviously watching almost all the games... Every time, going to commercial is a bit not really that I like it," Netherlands skipper Virgil van Dijk told reporters.

"I think for the neutral watchers on TV, it's also not great. So if it's really hot, obviously it will be good to put them in. But I think you have to look at it in every game separately, in my opinion."

Although not all fixtures are played during the day, hydration breaks have been mandated in each game at the World Cup in the interest of fairness and uniformity.

"As a player, it can work both ways," Belgium's Youri Tielemans said. "In some cities, it's not that hot and maybe we shouldn't do it.

"But at the end of the day, if you do it in some cities, you should do it for everyone."

COMMERCIAL TIMEOUT

Broadcasters are allowed to cut away to commercials 20 seconds after the referee signals a hydration break but must return to live action 30 seconds before the restart.

However, some broadcasters like Britain's ITV and Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo opted not to show commercials to preserve the sanctity of the live