FIFA will discuss the possibility of allowing players two water breaks during this summer's World Cup finals in Japan and Korea when officials meet in Zurich tomorrow. Proposals will be put to the sport's governing body to allow players take the scheduled 90-second breaks, one in each half, to prevent a reoccurrence of the farcical situations at USA '94 when several players complained of dehydration in the extreme conditions.
However, the move is seen by some cynics as a ploy to allow TV companies 'windows' to show adverts. The FIFA World Cup organisation are tomorrow set to examine the proposals when they meet in Zurich, Switzerland. FIFA general secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen, speaking to The Star, confirmed: "We are looking to give the players a short break to allow them to go to the sidelines for a drink. We must not endanger them."
The news will come as a relief to the Irish team, who were embroiled in controversy during the '94 tournament when then manager Jack Charlton was reprimanded for trying to ensure his players were given water during matches.
FIFA official Keith Cooper has, however, dismissed the reports claiming the move would involve a fundamental change in the laws of the game and the chances of it happening were 'very slim'. He admits the confusion may have arisen after a FIFA workshop in Tokyo last week with the 32 finalist teams, when it was mentioned that it would be 'a desirable thing to do'.
Cooper also allayed any fears supporters may have had about the conditions at the finals, insisting they will be a lot fairer than those in the US eight years ago. He added: "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."
Filed by Shane Murray
