FIFA has calmed fears the World Cup Final will be badly disrupted by the planned half-time show – by insisting the total break will be just 17 minutes.
With world chiefs announcing a series of headline acts for events in and around Sunday’s showpiece, it was rumoured the teams might be in their dressing rooms for up to half an hour.
Fifa are set to break their own rules at the World Cup final Credit: Getty
The final half-time show is set to run over the Ifab mandated 15 minutes Credit: Reuters
The Laws of the game mandate that half-time should only be a maximum of 15 minutes.
But it seemed was ready to ride roughshod over its own rules for the second time in the tournament after overturning US striker Folarin Balogun’s red card ban.
However, Fifa have now told both and that there will be only two minutes of extra waiting before the second half gets underway.
In their official communication to both camps, Fifa said the show itself, with performances from , , and , will last 11 minutes.
The additional time will account for erecting and then dismantling the stage in the middle of the pitch.
At last year’s Final between and PSG, also at the MetLife on the outskirts of New York, the half-time show was staged on the top level of one of the sideline stands, with the seating stripped out.
But with tickets costing thousands of pounds for the final that will not be repeated tomorrow.
The pitch will also then be watered after the staging has been packed away, which should help the ball roll better.
Complaints about the surface at the MetLife have eased since Brazil’s Vinicius Jr was extremely negative after his side’s opening draw with .
But it is still felt to be prone to drying out and making it difficult to move the ball at speed.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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