FIFA told to ban 'coaching' in 'tweak' to World Cup hydration breaks

FIFA have been urged to introduce rules preventing players from heading over to the dugouts during the hydration breaks in World Cup games.

That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that all players should remain in the middle of the pitch during the three-minute intervals.

The hydration breaks have been a major source of controversy in the early stages of the group games, with many fans believing that they disrupt the rhythm of games.

Wyness stressed that he is accepting of the "commercial ramifications" behind the breaks, with American TV company Fox using it as a chance to show adverts, but does not believe it should become a moment for a team talk.

Several coaches have used the stoppages as an opportunity to make tactical tweaks and drill details into their players.

The breaks have also been accused of changing the momentum of games on several occasions, and many pundits have been critical of their use.

Everton’s former chief Wyness - who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs - believes that FIFA must "tighten up the rules" regarding hydration breaks.

England and Croatia fans both jeered the arrival of the intervals in their clash earlier this week, when the breaks were enforced despite the stadium being air-conditioned.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness outlined that the rules surrounding the breaks must be made much clearer in the remainder of the tournament.

"I think people can sort of understand and accept that hydration breaks can happen, given the heat at some of the games. But then again, some of the conditions have not been that hot," he said.

"I think if it is to be a genuine hydration break, it should be the water on the pitch for the players. There should be no managers, no coaching. There should be no other contact. They should be allowed to huddle on the pitch and have their water break, and that should be it.

"It should be shorter. We all know there are commercial ramifications and it's being used for those sorts of things as well. I think they're not doing themselves any favours.

"FIFA could have tightened up the rules, certainly that a game had to be above a certain temperature, and I don't think all the games have been so far.

"There are certain things that should be done to tweak the breaks, and again, it's something that FIFA could do better than they have done so far."

Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett told Football Insider earlier this week that Fox Sports have netted £186million from the hydration breaks in the early stages of the World Cup.

The TV company hold the rights to the tournament in the USA, and have been cutting to advertisements during the hydration breaks, something both BBC and ITV have declined to do in the UK.

Hackett revealed that he has heard from an American contact that they have already netted an eye-watering sum as a result, and that will only grow further as the tournament progresses.

The comapny are a major partner to FIFA for the tournament, and are clearly reaping huge benefits from the hydration breaks.