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FOOTBALL

English FA contact FIFA over water

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England captain David Beckham douses himself with water against Paraguay.

SPECIAL REPORT

BUHLERTAL, Germany -- England's Football Association will approach FIFA after match officials in their Group B opener against Paraguay prevented players getting all the water they needed during the match.

Despite sweltering temperatures of up to 29 degrees Celsius (84 Fahrenheit) on Saturday, England's players were at times denied access to water by officials at the Waldstadion in Frankfurt.

"We're certainly going to make some kind of communication with FIFA -- not any kind of complaint -- but I know the medical staff were concerned," said FA spokesman Adrian Bevington.

"I think we went through 70 liters of water during the course of the game yesterday. We normally go through somewhere in the region of 20.

"That shows how much fluid was required by the players and it is important that they can access it as soon as possible. It's important that FIFA and the referees do take that into account when you're playing in such severe heat."

Bevington said the England players who lasted 90 minutes had shed "between five and 10 pounds...and that is despite the huge amount of fluid intake they received."

FIFA later issued a statement recalling the rules on water provision given to all 32 finalists at a workshop in March.

"Because the balance of water in the body is essential to health, FIFA actively encourages players to drink liquids during the match," the ruling body said.

However, it added beverages could only be drunk during stoppages in play, that they must be contained in plastic bottles provided by FIFA and must be handed out on the sidelines rather than thrown on to the pitch.

England midfielder Joe Cole felt the process of taking on water needed to be straightforward. "The conditions were as tough as we've played in.

"It was very draining and it was the first really hot day we've had in our build up. It took a lot out of us.

"There were a couple of times when you went over to the touchline and tried to get a drink and for some reason they didn't want us to.

"Obviously, I think it's important in those conditions you do keep drinking regularly and it needs to work."

England, who won 1-0 to go top of the group, continue their campaign with a later 6.00pm (1600 GMT) kickoff against Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday.

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