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England head coach Thomas Tuchel has won his battle with FIFA to remove photographers from the bench during the national anthem.
“I couldn’t see my team,” Tuchel said before Wednesday. Croatia won 4-2A wall of photographers blocking the view on the pitch.
FIFA has now changed its policy and agreed to make concessions for all affected games.
Photographers are now positioned closer to the halfway line in the huddle – allowing an unobstructed view for the coaching staff.
The Group L game held in Dallas was Tuchel’s first as a World Cup manager, but he said the event, especially the national anthems, was spoiled.
“I have to tell you something. I am asking FIFA to change the position of the photographers during the national anthem, because I can’t see my team,” Tuchel said.
“It was a very special moment and I was standing in front of a wall of 50 photographers and I couldn’t see a single player. It spoiled my experience a bit.”
AT&T Stadium is usually the home of the Dallas Cowboys, an NFL field too small for World Cup games.
It had to be raised 1.2 meters to fit the football field, which meant that part of the field was lost – creating limited space for coaches and photographers during the national anthem.
FIFA deployed the new approach for the first time this season. Group A Thursday Czech Republic and South Africa game in Atlanta.
