Infantino hints that hydration breaks could be here to stay - 'Maybe it's good'

Gianni Infantino has explained the use of unpopular hydration breaks. The intervals, introduced at the mid-point of each half, have been booed in stadia and drawn criticism from players, managers and pundits but the FIFA president has hinted that they could be used at future World Cups.

The three-minute pauses were introduced for this summer's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico to allow players to take on fluids during extreme temperatures.

They have been far from popular with some players, pundits and fans though, with some stating they have been introduced to allow for extra advert breaks.

But FIFA will consider keeping them for future tournaments, with Infantino insisting the breaks have increased the quality on show.

”Maybe the coach can reassess certain situations, correct certain mistakes," he said.

"The players get a little rest and come back in full speed. Well, is that bad, necessarily? Maybe it’s good.

”And we see as well the intensity of the games. We’ve never seen 90 minutes in a tournament like this played in such an intensity.

”Until the last second of the match, players attack and so on.

"And maybe, maybe not, but maybe it’s also a bit thanks to this little break that the players have, and after they can go back on the field and show what they can do."

Infantino's claims that hydration breaks have been for the good of the game have been countered by high-profile figures.

Speaking at the weekend, Uruguay boss Marcelo Bielsa said that pause "adds nothing and takes away a lot".

They have not gone down well with England manager Thomas Tuchel either.

Speaking ahead of the Three Lions' clash with Ghana, he said: "I think that it interrupts and changes the identity of a football match much more than I thought.

"I had hydration breaks before when it was really, really hot and needed, but they were shorter.

"They were shorter, and they were just in a few matches. In the interests of fairness here, it is now done in every match for every team.

"It breaks the match almost in four quarters. And I think it changes the characteristic of the match more than I thought."

Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk added: "I think for the neutral watchers on TV it's also not great."

And USA manager Mauricio Pochettino stated that hydration breaks should only be used "when the conditions are extreme".

There have been numerous occasions when temperatures have been more than manageable, but a three-minute interval has still been enforced.

Infantino stated that it was down to fairness.

”If we were to use hydration breaks only in those matches where it was too hot and not in the other matches, we would give an advantage or a disadvantage to some of the coaches or some of the teams,” he added.

”Why would the coach have the opportunity to influence the game in one match just because it’s hot and in another match where it’s a bit less hot, he wouldn’t have this opportunity?”

France manager, Didier Deschamps also weighed into the debate: "These breaks for three minutes, you can get the players close to you, and this gives you an opportunity to adjust a couple of things as regards the 22-23 minutes of game that just took place.

"With the high temperatures, it's important to be able to give this extra opportunity, two opportunities to the head coach. It's a good thing - this is a fact, but it leads us to split the game and if you're in a strong position, after this break, you must start playing again. But we adapt to it, even in our prep work, we've anticipated.”

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said: "For me, it's a coaching break more than a cooling break, so to me it's very important. For me, it's a very good thing. So, for example, the weather can be hot, and maybe this hydration break will always be important."