A-League FINALLY going to ditch hated drinks break whose only function is to allow MORE TV ads 


Frustrating ‘drinks breaks’ during A-League games are DUMPED after fans point out the VERY obvious reason they were unnecessary

  • Interruption reached farcical level in a game played in torrential rain 
  • Referees had to stop games upon being told to do so by Channel 10 
  • Players, coaches and supporters all called for more free flowing game 


After complaints from referees, players, coaches and fans, Channel 10’s Saturday night A-League games will no longer include artificial drinks breaks.

The matter came to a head this week with two match officials speaking of their frustration at how games were being stopped to allow advertising breaks during the live broadcast.

Speaking anonymously, an A-League match official suggested the call came from Channel 10 via the fourth official on the sideline, who then told the referee through his earpiece to call for a break, Nine newspapers reported.

Referees were unhappy at being told to stop play as it disrupted the flow of the game and riled players, managers and supporters.

Leo Lacroix (left) of Western United and Adam Le Fondre (right) of Sydney contest for the ball in torrential rain on February 12

Leo Lacroix (left) of Western United and Adam Le Fondre (right) of Sydney contest for the ball in torrential rain on February 12

Though drinks breaks have long been allowed for games played in extreme heat, that was often not the case for Channel 10’s Saturday night A-League matches. 

The interruption reached a ludicrous level on February 12 in a game between Sydney FC and Western United which was played in torrential rain and mild temperatures. 

The match still featured completely unnecessary drinks breaks in both halves, held with the sole purpose of allowing TV advertising.   

It caused Sydney FC coach Steve Corica to question the practise. 

‘There was plenty of rain coming down, so they probably didn’t need it. It was for TV,’ he said after the 1-1 draw. 

There was also a complaint after Central Coast Mariners’ 1-0 loss to Melbourne Victory last weekend.

Mariners player Jason Cummings said the stop-start nature of matches was something he’d never before experienced in his career.

Victory coach Tony Popovic also made it clear he wasn’t a fan of having a drinks breaks to facilitate TV ads. 

Deyvison Da Silva (pictured) of Sydney FC looks on during the match between Sydney FC and Western United at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, on February 12, 2022. A game played in torrential rain, but which still featured two drinks breaks

Deyvison Da Silva (pictured) of Sydney FC looks on during the match between Sydney FC and Western United at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, on February 12, 2022. A game played in torrential rain, but which still featured two drinks breaks

‘The drinks break, whether that’s for TV or not, I think we would all love the game to keep flowing but we were made aware of this before the season,’ he said. 

But a deal has now been struck between football bosses and broadcasters. 

The A-League said while commercial breaks in game will remain, they will only be shown when played is already halted.

‘After we had those drinks breaks in the Sydney FC game against Western United on February 12, APL (Australian Professional Leagues) sat down with (Channel) 10 and reiterated the sort of natural breaks that can be utilised,’ A-League chief executive Danny Townsend said.

Heavy rain falls during the round 14 A-League match between Sydney FC and Western United on February 12, 2022, in Sydney

Heavy rain falls during the round 14 A-League match between Sydney FC and Western United on February 12, 2022, in Sydney

‘We’ve heard the fan commentary since, but it’s important to note we were already working on it.

‘The key thing is that we can’t have the integrity and the flow of the game affected by pausing when otherwise the ball would be in play – through consultation with 10, we’ll revert back to a position where that’s the case.’

Ad breaks will now occur during so-called ‘natural pauses’ such as after the scoring of a goal, a significant injury stoppage or mandated drinks breaks from the match commissioner on health and safety grounds. 

Before this season, drink breaks mostly happened during daytime summer fixtures due to high temperatures.

Leo Lacroix (pictured left) of Western United keeping the ball from Sydney's Adam Le Fondre on February 12

Leo Lacroix (pictured left) of Western United keeping the ball from Sydney’s Adam Le Fondre on February 12

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