Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks had an unwanted take on the FIFA World Cup hydration breaks.
For the first time in its history, the 2026 FIFA World Cup featured two hydration breaks, each in one half. It was framed as an addition to help players hydrate during the game.
However, soccer fans didn’t buy into it, as the hydration breaks were clearly a cover-up to earn more advertising revenue for broadcasters.
After a mixed reaction from fans, FIFA is currently undecided over the inclusion of hydration breaks in future tournaments.
Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks calling FIFA hydration breaks ‘positive’ made soccer fans angry
FIFA may be undecided on hydration breaks’ future, but Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks certainly want them to return in the future.
Shanks believes the hydration breaks had a positive impact on the game and helped everyone involved on the field. However, soccer fans on X didn’t share the same views as the Fox Sports CEO.
“What an absolute moron, or shall I say, is the boys across the pond say, bell end?” a fan wrote. While another added, “Pathetic comment… basically he doesn’t give a s___ about the sport.”
“Guess he forgot to mention the hundreds of millions of dollars in extra advertising revenue,” a third fan pointed out.
“Very unbiased take from Eric,” a fan sarcastically wrote. A fifth fan stated, “It is against the essence of the game.”
Fans believe that Shanks didn’t reveal the real motive behind his support of the hydration breaks, which was the additional revenue for Fox Sports.
After all, a few reports claimed that Fox Sports is set to rake in up to an additional $500 million from the mandatory hydration breaks.
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