FIFA has agreed to change the positioning of photographers during national anthems following a complaint from England manager Thomas Tuchel. The German coach expressed frustration after photographers stood just metres from the England bench during the playing of God Save the King before the 4-2 victory over Croatia on Wednesday.
In a video capturing the incident, Tuchel was heard telling the photographers: 'Very close guys, you're very close. You're very close I cannot see anything.' After the match, Tuchel publicly called on FIFA to address the issue for the benefit of coaching staff at the World Cup.
Tuchel's Plea to FIFA
'I have to tell you something, I am begging FIFA to change the position of the photographers in the national anthem because I could not see my team in the national anthem,' Tuchel said. 'I was waiting for this moment. It was a very, very special moment today and I was standing in front of a wall of 50 photographers, half a metre away, and I could not see one single player and it ruined a little bit my experience today.'
The England boss added: 'It is very emotional. When I was young and when I started coaching, this was too big to dream of to have this kind of career.'
FIFA's Response
FIFA has now agreed to reposition photographers to allow coaching staff an unobstructed view of the pitch and players during the anthems. World Cup coaching staff will also be permitted to move from in front of the dugouts for a better view. During the Czech Republic's Group A match against South Africa on Thursday, photographers were already positioned at the corner of the dugouts, demonstrating the change.
