Tuchel's complaints lead to Fifa moving photographers

Thomas Tuchel is surrounded by cameramen

Image source, PA MediaImage caption,

Tuchel and his coaching staff in the dugout had their view blocked during the anthems

ByDale JohnsonFootball issues correspondent

Published7 minutes ago

England head coach Thomas Tuchel has won a battle with Fifa to get photographers moved away from the bench during the national anthems.

Tuchel said he "could not see my team" before Wednesday's 4-2 win over Croatia, with a wall of photographers blocking his view to the pitch.

Fifa has now changed its policy and agreeing to a compromise for all affected games.

Photographers will now be grouped in a huddle closer to the halfway line - allowing an unobstructed view for the coaching staff.

The Group L game in Dallas was Tuchel's first as a World Cup manager but he revealed the occasion, particularly the emotion of the national anthems, was spoiled.

"I have to tell you something. I'm begging Fifa to change the position of the photographers in the national anthem, because I could not 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 could not see one single player. It ruined a little bit my experience."

The AT&T Stadium usually serves as the home of the Dallas Cowboys, with the NFL field too small for World Cup matches.

The surface had to be raised 1.2m to be able to fit in a football pitch, which meant part of the sidelines were lost - resulting in limited space for the coaches and the photographers during the national anthems.

Fifa first deployed the new approach during Thursday's Group A fixture between Czech Republic and South Africa in Atlanta.