No water breaks at World Cup, say FIFA

Reports that drinks breaks could be introduced in each half of World Cup matches this summer have been dismissed by FIFA official…

Reports that drinks breaks could be introduced in each half of World Cup matches this summer have been dismissed by FIFA official Keith Cooper.

It had been suggested that two 90-second stoppages, splitting every game into quarters rather than the traditional two halves, for the players to take on water are being considered to cope with conditions in Japan and South Korea.

However, Cooper said that the move would involve a fundamental change in the laws of the game and the chances of it happening were "very slim".

"I think there is a big confusion here. Last week in Tokyo we had a workshop with the 32 finalist teams and it was mentioned it would be a desirable thing to do," said the FIFA spokesman.

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"This would be a major change in the law of the game and we don't change those overnight and certainly not for one competition.

"The laws of the game are sacrosanct and this would apply right across the board, from the World Cup right down to Saturday morning park matches.

"If the organising committee are in favour of taking it further it goes to the FIFA board and if anyone will allow it, it will be them, but the likelihood is very slim."

"You could not make a single exception for the World Cup unless it was under very, very special circumstances and it does not seem to us that those special circumstances are there at the moment."

Cooper said that he believed there had been a misconception about conditions in Japan and Korea.

"It is a bit puzzling where this has come from," he said.

"It is not that hot, temperatures are the in low to mid-20s. We played a test competition, the FIFA Confederations Cup, in those countries last year and we didn't get one single complaint."