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Alan Shearer slammed the referee's failure to call for the hydration break during England vs Ghana, during a separate stoppage.
The hydration break, one of the most-hated aspects of the 2026 World Cup , would have slotted in near perfectly during the stoppage.
The event occurred after Reece James and Jordan Ayew collided heads, prompting a brief break from the game.
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Alan Shearer slams suspect FIFA motive during England vs Ghana
Shearer , the highest goalscorer in Premier League history, was far from impressed after the event.
As the game was stopped, and the hydration break near, it did not sit right with the ex- England international that the referee refused to allow them to overlap.
Speaking on commentary duty alongside Guy Mowbray, the former Newcastle striker said: 'It's crazy for the referee to not just say 'let's have the hydration break now.'"
Mowbray then described a possible reason for the failed overlap, hinting at suspect FIFA motives: the esteemed commentator, one of football's most recognisable voices, surmised that it was likely due to advertising.
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As there was no advertising schedule lined up at that time, the decision was instead made to keep the hydration break separate.
Both commentators agreed with the assessment, as England's battle to beat Ghana in their Group L fixture was momentarily derailed to accommodate for two separate breaks.
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