Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 09:24am on 13 Jun 2026,Saturday Sports
FIFA has come under criticism after a cooling break during the World Cup opener between Mexico and South Africa was reportedly extended to accommodate a television commercial break. According to multiple reports, the referee delayed the restart as the broadcaster was still showing advertisements. Even then, some viewers missed the first few seconds of play after the match resumed. FIFA had introduced mandatory three-minute cooling breaks for player welfare, with broadcasters instructed to return before the restart. The incident has sparked backlash from fans, who argue that commercial interests should not interfere with the flow of the game or the viewing experience. (PC: X)
