FIFA changes World Cup kick-off times

Football’s world governing body FIFA has changed seven kick-off times at next year’s World Cup, citing the heat at the venues, in a reverse of a decision before the draw, according to  Voice of Russia, dpa.

FIFA president Joseph Blatter and secretary-general Jerome Valcke had both insisted ahead of Friday’s draw in Costa do Sauipe there would be no change to the starting times.

But a statement from FIFA Saturday said that seven matches have been changed “to allow later kick-off times in the hottest venues.”

These include three matches in Manaus and one in Recife. However one of the matches in Manuas – the venue’s opening game between England and Italy – has in fact been brought forward by three hours.

M.D