Of all the things wrong with the World Cup, the most inconsequential ones - hydration breaks and the final half-time show - have attracted the most griping.
Every single break time decision in football is arbitrary already.
"Players are entitled to an interval at half-time, not exceeding 15 minutes; a short drinks break (which should not exceed one minute) is permitted at the interval of half-time in extra time. Competition rules must state the duration of the half-time interval and it may be altered only with the referee’s permission."
You could argue that that this rule allows referees to extend the half-time break.
In any case it's clear that the WC referee had no role in the scheduling of those half-time antics.
Surely the ref had to rubber stamp it.
I can't say I think the halftime show is a big deal at all though.
Adding 2 more pauses is actually bastardizing football.
At least with hydration breaks, everyone got them and they were the same for everyone. I know sports fans don't like change. If everything else about this WC was perfect I'd say "Fine, go ahead, complain". But this is the tiniest, most meaningless thing to moan about nearly 3 weeks after the tournament is done.
It's exactly what enshitification is, people accepting these type of small changes and thinking it's not a big deal.
So no, it's not a tiny issue. Compared to this Balogun red card is a tiny issue.
So turn your TV off. Cancel your subscription. Support your local league team in person.
> Compared to this Balogun red card is a tiny issue.
Strong disagree. The Balogun red card strikes at the very heart of fair competition within the game.
First of all I support my local team and go to almost every home game and a couple of away games each season.
But don't you see what you're providing as possible alternatives?
1. Stop following your national team which gave you huge joy in the past, and just not have that as part of your life. Why? Because of greed of others.
2. Go to live games, where ticket prices are gouged and the same extraction process happens. And hell even there you don't get to skip the hydration breaks magically.
In this case, my experience and something I care for is becoming shittier. And this is just a small example. It's happening in pretty much every facet of our environment. And why is it happening? Because of our economic system that rewards incessant greed and sociopathic behaviour.
a few years ago when the momentum was moving towards tennis, some european clubs proposed a "super league" comprising of only the elite teams, the purpose was again to maximize ad profits (and i should go back to check who actually proposed it, who they were affiliated with). That time they were suggested not to proceed, or else they would be boycotted from all other events, the players too. That was also a good decision.
football (not handegg) it already corrupt enough as it is, and too much money is flowing into it, it's incredible and heart warming that there is still some dignity left in the associations.
This is like saying “customers aren’t worried enough about the corporate process - they only care about the end product!”