According to German TV station ZDF, former Liverpool coach Klopp criticized hydration breaks in the FIFA World Cup, calling them a ploy to squeeze in more advertisements.
Klopp said: "Football is being held hostage by managers sitting in air-conditioned offices." He was blunt about the new rule introduced by FIFA on the ZDF program, calling it "a shield to protect players' health, a noble sword against high temperatures."
The former Liverpool coach believes these breaks are actually just "a golden cage built for sponsors." Klopp recalled that when he saw players standing still during breaks in the scorching heat, and TV commercials interrupting the flow of the game, he couldn't help but wonder: Who is the FIFA World Cup really for? Is it for the fans, the players, or the advertisers?
He also said that FIFA World Cup matches should flow like a river, but now "dams" are being built in the middle to allow advertisements to be inserted. He believes this harms the spirit of the game.
Klopp said that football used to be the main event, but now it risks becoming background music for an advertising show. He also emphasized that football should be the real focus, not turning football into "an interlude between commercials."