Alan Shearer has criticised the decision not to combine a medical stoppage with the scheduled hydration break during England's Group L clash with Ghana at the FIFA World Cup 2026, suggesting advertising interests were to blame.

The incident unfolded after Reece James and Jordan Ayew collided heads, bringing play to a halt. With the mandatory hydration break — one of the most-discussed aspects of this tournament — due shortly, Shearer questioned why the two pauses were not merged into one.

Shearer's frustration on commentary

Speaking alongside commentator Guy Mowbray, the Premier League's all-time leading scorer did not hide his displeasure. "It's crazy for the referee to not just say 'let's have the hydration break now,'" Shearer said.

Mowbray offered a possible explanation: the hydration break had not been incorporated into the advertising schedule at that precise moment, so broadcasters kept the two stoppages separate to protect planned commercial slots.

Both Shearer and Mowbray agreed that commercial considerations appeared to have driven the referee's call — a conclusion that left the former England international visibly frustrated.

Two breaks disrupt England's rhythm

The dual interruption briefly derailed England's momentum in the group stage fixture, with the team ultimately working to secure their result against Ghana in Group L.

The hydration break itself has proven divisive at the FIFA World Cup 2026, drawing criticism from players, coaches, and pundits alike. For Shearer, the failure to use an existing stoppage as an opportunity for the break only compounded those concerns — pointing, in his view, to a process driven more by broadcasting schedules than by the welfare of players on the pitch.