UEFA tipped to ‘soft launch’ World Cup feature that football fans hate

Former England goalkeeper Ben Foster fears hydration breaks will slowly make their way into the Premier League and Champions League.

FIFA’s decision to introduce three-minute breaks midway through each half of the World Cup faced heavy backlash from football fans.

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The interruptions caused a disruption to the momentum of matches and were criticised by both coaches and players alike.

“I don’t like it. I only like it when the conditions are extreme. But when the conditions are good, it is unnecessary,” said USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino.

TV broadcasters in America capitalised on the breaks and used them as prime advertising space.

On average, a 30-second World Cup commercial slot on Fox Sports costs between $200,000 and $300,000 (£150,000-£224,000), with prices soaring to around $750,000 (£560,000) during the final stages of the tournament.

Additionally, the final featured a Super Bowl-style half-time show on Sunday night, causing FIFA to breach the Laws of the Game.

The interval during the biggest game in world football was stretched to 27 minutes, exceeding the maximum 15 allowed.

‘Halves are not even 45 minutes’

Foster, who played more than 550 professional games for club and country, spoke exclusively on talkSPORT Drive on how the stoppage in play affects the athletes’ physical condition.

He said: “If you’re an older player it does, if you’re about 32 onwards [it will affect you].

“I would like to think they have bikes in the changing room because they will have to get moving pretty quick, because you can stiffen up so quickly.”

He added: “The halves are not even 45 minutes anymore, they’re quarters. It would not surprise me if these hydration breaks crept into the Premier League.

“It would not surprise me one little bit. Where there’s money to be made, there’s a way. They will find a reason to justify it.”

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Commercial changes

Beyond the extended half-time entertainment, FIFA’s hydration breaks – which were deployed even in climate-controlled venues – have effectively split football matches into four distinct segments.

Foster believes the shift is entirely driven by money and warned that domestic leagues, including the Premier League, could be next.

Fans are left feeling powerless as the traditions of the sport are altered for commercial gain.

Reflecting on how football’s governing bodies push through major structural changes despite widespread fan disapproval, Foster pointed to the implementation of VAR as the ultimate blueprint.

He said: “There’s nothing we can do as football fans to stop it, they introduced VAR and every single one of us hates it.

“I could do away with VAR tomorrow, but they won’t now because they invested so much money into it.

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“They will do a soft launch in the Champions League, for example, you watch. Clubs will say ‘oh we get an extra million quid’.”

The former Manchester United goalkeeper added: “Teams have been approaching games differently because it’s in quarters, so you can break it down into the four parts. But I hate it.”

UEFA has already ruled out similar measures, and European football managers have admitted to disliking the stoppages.

England manager Thomas Tuchel previously stated that they ‘interrupt and change the identity of a football match’.

Rules continued to be broken

FIFA has been under intense scrutiny throughout the World Cup, facing major controversies on and off the pitch.

USA striker Folarin Balogun had his red card suspended, with President Donald Trump admitting to calling FIFA chief Gianni Infantino and asking him to review the decision.

Throughout the tournament, ticket prices soared and allocation for the final soared up to $2.3million (£1.7million).

Additionally, there was a politicisation of the international competition, with supporters of several nations unable to enter the country due to US immigration travel bans.

This included Somali referee Omar Artan, who was refused entry at Miami Airport.