English FA to contact FIFA over water issue

BUHLERTAL, Germany, June 11 (Reuters) 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 yesterday, 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,'' FA spokesman Adrian Bevington told a news conference today.

''I think we went through 70 litres 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.'' England won the game 1-0 to go top of their group.

REUTERS PDS PM1745