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Hydration Breaks Could Be Introduced to Premier League

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Reports suggest that the Premier League will ‘find it hard to overlook’ a major rule change after its success at the World Cup, despite any plans to introduce likely to be met with strong opposition from fans.

Indeed, there were sweeping changes at this summer’s tournament, including an expansion in the number of teams that could qualify, adjustments to the yellow-card threshold, and the introduction of new technology such as Snicko, incorporated into the ball to help VAR make crucial decisions and determine who touched the ball last.

The least popular changes, however, have been those that have brought a stronger sense of Americanism to the beautiful game. A half-time show at this year’s final will feel worlds away from football’s working-class traditions, and another change in a similar vein could be heading to England sooner than many might expect.

Hugely Unpopular World Cup Rule Could Hit Premier League

World Cup Trophy REUTERS/Henry Romero

FIFA’s decision to mandate three-minute pauses midway through each half of each game has been subject to heavy backlash from those inside the stadium, with jeering commonplace as a result. The breaks disrupt the momentum of matches and have been criticised by both coaches and players as well.

But while hydration breaks are detested by many, they are proving a goldmine for TV broadcasters, and could soon become the norm. An extra four minutes and 20 seconds of advertising space per game has been sold this summer. Across the entire tournament, that’s an added seven hours, 30 minutes and 40 seconds of ads served to viewers worldwide.

In the United States alone, an average 30-second World Cup slot on Fox Sports costs between $200,000 and $300,000, according to ESPN. That price rises to around $750,000 during the closing stages of the competition. With potential for eight extra 30-second ad slots per game, hydration breaks alone are likely to generate more than $250m.

That figure alone is more than half of the $485m Fox paid for the English-language rights to the tournament, and would undoubtedly be a mouth-watering prospect that broadcasters in the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and Bundesliga would find hard to shy away from too much longer.

Premier League title shown with Arsenal ribbons of red and white

“The legacy of this summer’s World Cup is not likely to be political interference or referee conspiracies that benefit Lionel Messi. It’s going to be hydration breaks,” sports business reporter Ben Strauss wrote Monday, as per the same report.

He also suggests that, after speaking to a dozen media and soccer executives, the breaks are ‘likely to become a key topic in media rights negotiations going forward.’

“It would be hard to move backwards once hydration breaks have been shown to work because of the dollars associated with it,” David Levy, the former president of Turner who now runs a sports marketing agency,” told ESPN.

And while it might not be introduced to European football right away, the MLS and NWSL will almost certainly implement the breaks soon enough, given the advertisement culture of other US sports, which are rooted in franchise models.

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Mark Henry Names Kurt Angle as Toughest WWE Superstar He Wrestled

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Across his 22-year in-ring career, WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry shared the ring with a wide variety of Superstars.

Known as The World’s Strongest Man, Henry is considered to be one of the most powerful men ever to grace the squared circle.

The Silsby, Texas native enjoyed plenty of success in WWE, winning the World Heavyweight Championship twice, in addition to being both a European Champion and the ECW Champion.

Mark Henry Wrestled Many WWE Legends

Mark Henry

Henry worked with a wide variety of Superstars during his active career. From icons such as John Cena and The Undertaker to young prospects taking their first steps on the main roster, the 55-year-old has personal experience with them all.

Mark recently sat down with GIVEMESPORT, in association with Casino.org, to speak about his legendary career. While there was one Superstar he couldn’t stand, Henry typically got along with the majority of the locker rooms he was a part of.

Asked to recall the toughest Superstars he had ever been in the ring with, Henry had no hesitation in naming the man who belonged at the top of his list.

Mark Henry’s 3 Toughest WWE Superstars

Mark Henry

However, he also gave credit to two Superstars that he shared the SmackDown locker room with between 2005 and 2007.

“Bobby Lashley and Chris Benoit would make the list. There’s been some really tough opponents. Some of these guys were formidable.”

Lashley certainly fits that description, given his extensive amateur wrestling background, together with a 15-2 record in MMA.

Bobby Lashley
 Bobby Lashley as the WWE Champion

One Superstar, though, stood out for Mark above the rest:

“Kurt Angle is one of the toughest Superstars that I’ve shared the ring with. You can put him right there at the top of the list.”

Famously the winner of a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 1996 Olympics, Angle made the transition to professional wrestling and WWE just two years after his triumph in Atlanta.

Despite being new to the industry, Angle was a natural in his new role and would win the WWE Championship less than a year after his debut.

He and Henry shared the ring in a number of high-profile matches, including two pay-per-view matches in 2006. Angle defeated Henry to retain the World Heavyweight Championship at that year’s Royal Rumble, before Mark got his revenge via count out at Judgment Day 2006.

Henry’s views on Angle’s toughness are no surprise, given that the Olympic Hero has been ranked among the legitimately toughest Superstars in WWE history.

Kurt officially retired from the ring after losing to Baron Corbin at WrestleMania 35, calling time on his own Hall of Fame career.

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Lionel Messi Slammed For Trying to Get Marc Cucurella Sent Off NN:

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Argentina have certainly played to the edge of the rules during the World Cup, with many accusations from fans of unsportsmanlike conduct in multiple games during their run to the final. Lionel Scaloni’s have been branded as the villains throughout the tournament for their physical, foul-heavy approach against their opponents.

Fans have persistently complained about the Argentine’s time-wasting, provoking of their opponents and constant hounding of the referee, and that behaviour has followed through to the final, with Lionel Messi involved in the incident which caught many fans’ eyes during Spain’s World Cup final win.

Messi’s Incident With Cucurella

Marc Cucurella (Spain) Jerome Miron (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

With Argentina going down to ten men following the dismissal of Enzo Fernandez, Messi became involved in a confrontation with Marc Cucurella. Messi turned to the referee demanding that the Spanish left-back should be sent off for covering his mouth, an action that is now considered a red card offence following the introduction of a new rule by FIFA, especially for the tournament.

However, referee Slavko Vincic was unmoved by Messi’s complaint, and no red card was shown to Cucurella as play continued. It’s a rule that has been used but also disregarded during the tournament, with Miguel Almiron sent off earlier in the tournament for covering his mouth whilst Harry Kane avoided punishment for doing the same during England’s game against Argentina.

The incident immediately caught the eye of fans, with many left angered by Messi’s conduct.

Fan Reaction to the Messi Incident

Lionel Messi REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Unsurprisingly, the incident infuriated many fans, who took to social media to complain about Argentina’s behaviour, not for the first time during the tournament.

One fan said: “Messi is a disgrace for trying to get Cucurella sent off”.

Most fans were in agreement, with another saying: “Messi trying to get Marc Cucurella off for covering his mouth tells you everything about his career. The Mr Nice guy mask always comes off when he’s under pressure; he’s a fraud.”

A third posted: “Messi is such a Cheat…I don’t know how he managed to deceive the World that he was the Good guy between the two.” One more said: “Messi tried to send Cucurella off for this. He didn’t even cover his mouth like that. Im told to believe Messi is humble, okay man.”

While another summed up the mood, saying: “The thing with Messi’s little guy is shameful Cucurella approaches him to say something friendly and asks the referee to send him off for saying it with his hand over his mouth.”

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Donald Trump Accused of ‘Ignoring’ Gianni Infantino

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The winner of the 2026 World Cup has now been decided, with Spain beating Argentina 1-0 in the final. US President Donald Trump was on hand for the celebrations, but an awkward moment with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has quickly gone viral.

Truth be told, it wasn’t the most memorable game and could even rank among the dullest of the entire tournament. The biggest talking point didn’t come until the 93rd minute when Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a second yellow card.

The game then went to extra time, but try as they might, 10-man Argentina could not cling on for penalties. Ferran Torres stepped up with a fine finish to lash home the winner and seal Spain’s second-ever World Cup triumph.

US President Trump Causes Stir During World Cup Final Celebrations

US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino with the World Cup trophy US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino via REUTERS/Lee Smith

After the game, as expected, US President Trump was seen amongst the celebrations. After handing out the winners’ and losers’ medals – at which point he was snubbed by Argentine defender Cristian Romero – he then made his way to the podium as Spain were finally given the chance to lift the World Cup trophy.

As Rodri took the golden prize in his hands, Trump shamelessly positioned himself at the end of the Spanish group. At this point, FIFA president Infantino was seen quickly hurrying across the stage to move Trump out of the way.

He put a hand on the 80-year-old’s arm but was essentially ignored as Trump remained in sight as Spain captain Rodri lifted the World Cup. Infantino appeared to sheepishly back away a bit, and the two eventually edged further away as the celebrations continued.

Fans Not Happy With ‘Weird’ Trump Behaviour

Multiple clips of the incident have gone viral online, with fans clearly not impressed. One said: “Not Trump ignoring Infantino trying to get him to leave the scene for Spain’s trophy lift. That’s what you get for selling yourself, you corrupt clown.”

Another added:

“Infantino trying to usher Trump off stage for the trophy lift and he’s ignoring him.”

A third noted: “Infantino was literally telling Trump to move out of the way. He wanted to stand there and take photos.” While a fourth said: “Didn’t want to leave the stage where the Spanish team was celebrating despite Infantino trying to lead Trump off several times.”

Somebody added: “He did something similar during the World Club Cup too. Trump just like to be in the limelight. Wants to share headlines, not one to stay in the background. He was really looking out of place there, creating a weird scene.”

A final fan spoke for many as they wrote: “Trump knows exactly what he’s doing here.”

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