Kicking it around

Tottenham's director of football, David Pleat, is in favour of three breaks.

"The players' well-being is the most important consideration," he said. "I do not see any reason why it should not happen as long as it is very brief."

Wimbledon manager Terry Burton said: "If you want players to perform to the best of their ability they cannot be dehydrated. If the ball goes out of play for 90 seconds it would give them a good opportunity. I think you can leave it to the ref's common sense, though, rather than having a structured break."

However, Evening Standard columnist and former Football Task Force chairman, David Mellor, said: "The people who really want it to be a game of four quarters are the advertisers. The game will not benefit... This should be rejected."