DALLAS, June 17 — Loud boos during hydration breaks echoed around World Cup Group L matches on Wednesday as fans signalled their disdain for the innovation, first at Dallas Stadium for England's clash with Croatia and later in Toronto where Ghana faced Panama.
FIFA's mandatory three-minute breaks, one in each half, have proved controversial since their introduction at this World Cup to help players cope with the heat and humidity of the North American summer.
Critics say the breaks kill the flow of the game, while others see their introduction as a cynical ploy to split the game into four quarters and allow broadcasters more opportunities to show adverts.
On social media, England fans said they would signal their objection at Wednesday's match, and the boos started from both sets of supporters as soon as referee Clement Turpin blew his whistle to signal the break in the 22nd minute.
The hydration break also received a cold reception in chilly Toronto during the day's other Group L game, with fans booing while players from Panama and Ghana walked toward their respective benches as a steady rain poured down.
"If you (have) a break, it is to do corrections. It was not hot, but we have to accept that the advertisers (on) television is what is paying for all these things," said Panama coach Thomas Christiansen after his side's 1-0 loss to Ghana.
There were also boos from the crowd when the first break started on Tuesday in Norway's match against Iraq at Boston Stadium, where the temperature was a mild 23°C.
Iraq were holding the Norwegians at 0-0 and playing well when the break started but conceded a goal four minutes after play resumed and lost 4-1.
