FIFA對於要不要保留補水暫停感到為難
Although FIFA stands to make hundreds of millions, even billions of dollars more on future media rights deals should it continue the practice of mandatory hydra tion breaks during the World Cup, officials within soccer’s global governing bo dy are apparently split on whether the mid-half stoppages should continue.
若世界盃持續實施強制補水暫停（hydration breaks），FIFA 未來在轉播權交易中有望額外賺進數億甚至數十億美元，但據悉這個全球足球管理機構內部對於是否應繼續保留半場中段的補水暫停制度，仍存在分歧
According to a report by John Ourand of Puck, “FIFA officials remain torn” on the continuation of hydration breaks in future tournaments. “The organization c ontinues to field complaints about the stoppages, particularly from abroad,” Ou rand reports.
根據《Puck》記者John Ourand的報導，「FIFA官員對於未來賽事是否繼續實施補水暫停仍意見分歧」Ourand 表示：「FIFA 持續收到對這項暫停措施的抱怨，尤其是來自海外的批評」
Should FIFA decide to do away with the mandatory breaks in play, it would be lea ving gobs of money on the table. Broadcasters have learned this summer just how lucrative these hydration breaks can be. Fox, for instance, has been afforded th e opportunity to run over two minutes of commercials in the middle of each half of each match during this summer’s World Cup. The result? $250 million in ad re venue at minimum for hydration break commercials alone.
如果FIFA決定取消強制補水暫停，那麼將等於放棄一筆龐大的收入，各家轉播商已在今年夏天充分體會到，補水暫停所帶來的商業價值有多驚人，例如Fox 在本屆世界盃每場比賽上下半場的補水暫停期間，都能播放超過兩分鐘的廣告，結果光是補水暫停時段的廣告，就至少為Fox帶來了2.5億美元的廣告收入
Now that broadcasters know the potential revenue they can earn by selling hydrat ion break ads, they’ll be willing to pay FIFA more for broadcast rights when bi dding for the 2030 and 2034 tournaments come around.
如今轉播商已經知道販售補水暫停廣告能帶來可觀收益，因此當2030年與 2034年世界盃轉播權開始競標時，他們將更願意支付更高的價格向 FIFA購買轉播權
That changes if FIFA officials deem the mandatory breaks a one-off. In the past, World Cup matches have stopped for hydration breaks depending on the weather. E xceptionally hot matches would get a break, while more temperate matches would p lay through a full 45-minute half as is the norm. Should FIFA return to a temper ature-based approach for hydration breaks, broadcasters would be unable to sell full commercial packages as they did in this World Cup.
但如果FIFA官員認定這次強制補水暫停只是一次性的安排，情況就會有所不同，過去世界盃是否安排補水暫停，主要取決於天氣狀況：只有在氣溫特別炎熱時才會暫停補水，氣候較涼爽的比賽則維持正常的 45 分鐘半場不中斷，如果FIFA回到依據氣溫決定是否補水的制度，轉播商便無法像本屆世界盃一樣，提前規劃並販售完整的廣告套裝
It appears most of the pressure against hydration breaks are coming from oversea s. “One source described FIFA as ‘thin-skinned’ on the issue,” Ourand wrote.“‘They’re really hearing it from the rest of the world,’ this person said. Or they’re just negotiating. Or both.”
看來反對補水暫停制度的大部分壓力都來自海外，Ourand寫道：「一位消息人士形容 FIFA在這個議題上過於敏感，這位人士表示：「他們真的受到來自世界其他地區的大量批評」，當然也有可能 FIFA 只是藉此進行談判，又或者兩者皆是。
Wherever the pressure is coming from, it appears as if there will be at least a bit of in-fighting amongst FIFA officials to decide whether this newfangled prac tice stays or goes. Broadcasters want one thing, fans want the other. Let’s see who wins out.
無論這些壓力來自何方，FIFA 內部看來勢必會就是否保留這項新制度展開一番角力，轉播商希望補水暫停繼續存在，而球迷則傾向另一種立場，最終究竟哪一方會勝出，仍有待觀察
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