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Alan Shearer and Guy Mowbray voiced strong criticism of FIFA’s handling of a stoppage during England’s group stage match against Ghana, suggesting there may have been questionable motives behind the decision to keep two breaks separate.

The incident took place when Reece James and Jordan Ayew accidentally clashed heads, leading to a brief halt in play. As the pause coincided with the scheduled hydration break, Shearer was baffled that the referee chose not to combine the two stoppages.

Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer, expressed his disbelief while covering the match as a commentator. “It’s crazy for the referee to not just say ‘let’s have the hydration break now,’” the former England striker remarked, clearly unimpressed with the decision.

Working alongside him on commentary, Guy Mowbray offered a possible explanation, speculating that advertising schedules might have influenced the decision. Mowbray, one of football’s most respected voices, suggested that FIFA’s commercial interests could have played a role in keeping the hydration break separate from the injury stoppage.

Hydration breaks remain one of the most controversial additions to the 2026 World Cup, with many fans and pundits arguing that they disrupt the game’s flow and diminish its intensity. Critics claim the breaks are more beneficial for broadcasters and advertisers than for players’ welfare.

In this particular case, since there was no pre-planned advertising slot available at the time of the head collision, officials decided to delay the hydration break rather than merge it with the ongoing stoppage. This led to two separate interruptions in quick succession, breaking England’s rhythm as they fought to gain control against Ghana in their Group L encounter.

Both Shearer and Mowbray agreed that the incident highlighted a larger issue surrounding FIFA’s priorities, with Shearer calling the situation “crazy” and Mowbray hinting that commercial considerations might be taking precedence over common sense on the pitch.