Mandatory three-minute hydration breaks, a standard feature seen at this year's FIFA World Cup matches, are proving as controversial as they are cooling, with players split over interruptions that some argue disrupt the flow of the game while coaches embrace them as tactical timeouts.
The breaks were introduced after the sweltering Club World Cup in the U.S. last year, when soaring temperatures and oppressive humidity fuelled concerns among players, coaches and fans.
Matches will have hydration breaks taken around the 22nd minute in each half and the rule essentially breaks the game down into four quarters.
"I think hydration breaks are a bit interesting because I was obviously watching almost all the games... Every time, going to commercial is a bit not really that I like it," Netherlands skipper Virgil van Dijk told reporters.
"I think for the neutral watchers on TV, it's also not great. So if it's really hot, obviously it will be good to put them in. But I think you have to look at it in every game separately, in my opinion."
