“Football is the hostage of officials in air-conditioned offices”

The German technician declared himself dissatisfied with the introduction of mandatory hydration breaks and claims that they ended up serving commercial interests rather than the health of the players.

Klopp questions the real reason for the hydration breaks: “Who does the World Cup really serve?

At the current edition of the World Cup, FIFA introduced mandatory breaks in each half of matches played in high temperatures.

The official reason is to protect footballers from extreme heat. However, the decision caused much controversy after television stations were given the right to broadcast advertisements during the three-minute blackout. Klopp believes this measure affects the essence of the game.

“As I watched the players sit during a warm-up break while the televised airtimes dictated the tempo of the game, I couldn't help but wonder: who does the World Cup really serve? To the fans? To the players? Or advertisers?“, Klopp said to the German channel ZDF.

“We build dams for advertising”

The former Liverpool manager went even further, saying football risks becoming a by-product in a show dominated by publicity.

“Football is being held hostage by officials in air-conditioned offices. A World Cup match should flow like a river. Instead, we're building dams in the middle so adverts can get through. This is dangerous to the spirit of the game“, warned the German.

Klopp also directly criticized the way the interruptions started to affect the running of games.

Discussions were also fueled by an episode that took place at the inaugural match between Mexico and South Africa. According to information appearing in the international press, the game was not resumed immediately after the hydration break because the American channel Fox was still in an advertising block.

Jurgen Klopp: “Football risks becoming background music”

At the end of his intervention, the German sent a harsh message to the leaders of world football.

“Football used to be the main event, but now it risks becoming the background music of an advertising show. I hope football doesn't become a commercial break.”

• FIFA introduced the “hydration break” due to the very high temperatures recorded in many of the tournament's host cities. The official goal is to prevent dehydration, physical exhaustion, and serious medical problems that can occur during intense exercise.