World Cup Cooling Break – the Twitter reaction

In extreme humidity and temperatures approaching 40°C, The Netherlands and Mexico World Cup teams became a test case for Fifa’s new Cooling Break rule – a chance to rehydrate, enjoy a cold towel and perhaps talk tactics.

#coolingbreak was immediately trending on Twitter as users discussed the pros and cons of the decision. Was it necessary? Was it really just a coaching break? If players need a 3-minute break in Brazil, how long will they need in the desert heat of Qatar in 2022? And if they can take a break to cool down why can’t Fifa spare a few seconds to look at contentious decisions too?

Plus plenty of silliness, of course…

A contentious decision…

So we can stop matches for a 3-minute cooling break but not to review a contentious penalty decision for 30 seconds? #FIFAsense

— Nik Postinger (@nikpostinger) June 29, 2014

Breaking point in Qatar

First cooling break ever in a World Cup. And it's only just above 32Celsius… How many cooling breaks will the players need in Qatar…?

— Kim Ghattas (@KimGhattas) June 29, 2014

Qatar 2022 will have 90 minutes of water breaks with 3 minutes of football in each half#CoolingBreak #MEX #NED #WorldCup

— Neil Humphreys (@NeilHumphreys) June 29, 2014

Where have we seen that before…?

Big Jack was ahead of his time #CoolingBreak about 20 years too late FIFA! pic.twitter.com/GdNrePqkdB

— Niall Kelly (@nkbelfast) June 29, 2014

Possible improvements?

It would be funny if all the players were handed ice-lollies #coolingbreak

— Rhaegar Targaryen (@Yasmin_Gooner) June 29, 2014

Instead of a cooling break how about just turning on the sprinklers? Great summer fun #NED v #MEX

— Paul Jones (@Jonesvision) June 29, 2014

For and against

38° plus humidity!! Yikes. Good call on having a #coolingbreak

— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) June 29, 2014

Good to see players treated like human beings and allowed to have a drink. #Scorchio #CoolingBreak

— MickeyTHFC (@Mickeyleon75) June 29, 2014

The #CoolingBreak for me is a bad idea, it kills the momentum of the the game. It is not for football

— Ramsey D Great! (@HRH_Prime) June 29, 2014

A cooling break? WTF? Football is broken! #coolingbreak #por #usa

— Mary (@MarySheDevilUtd) June 22, 2014

#coolingbreak can't stand the heat then get out the #kitchen.

— Jermaine Bucknor (@snkrface) June 29, 2014

What in the world is going on? #coolingbreak this removed the advantage south Americans used to have #WorldCup

— Adrian Yeo (@ninoamigo) June 29, 2014

Never seen so much bollocks in all my life #coolingbreak #Againstmoderndayfootball

— Jason Marriner (@Jason_marriner1) June 29, 2014

It’s really a coaching break…

Anyone think the @FIFAcom #CoolingBreak should be away from the coaching staff? ie. players in the centre circle

— MUFC Fan2Fan Tickets (@MUFCSparesHOME) June 29, 2014

If the Cooling Break is purely for health reasons should the coaches be allowed to talk to the players? I think not #NED v #MEX

— Paul Jones (@Jonesvision) June 29, 2014

The Cooling Break is…

…epic…

this #coolingbreak is epic

— Steve Pippens (@ethelpip) June 22, 2014

…confusing…

I'm confused. What is a #coolingbreak?
Is this a new thing?#MEXvsNED

— Martha Dominguez (@PrincessMarthaD) June 29, 2014

…historic!

We're watching history here. #Coolingbreak

— Jamie (@jtlovell1979) June 29, 2014