For a third consecutive World Cup tournament, FIFA staged FIFA Fan Fests in each of the 12 host cities throughout the competition. Prominent examples were the Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, which already held a Fan Fest in 2010, and São Paulo's Vale do Anhangabaú.[39][40] The first official event took place on Iracema Beach, in Fortaleza, on 8 June 2014.[41]
Innovations
[edit]Technologies
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In order to avoid ghost goals, the 2014 World Cup introduced goal-line technology following successful trials at, among other competitions, the 2013 Confederations Cup. The chosen Goal Control system featured 14 high speed cameras, 7 directed to each of the goals. Data were sent to the central image-processing centre, where a virtual representation of the ball was output on a widescreen to confirm the goal. The referee was equipped with a watch which vibrated and displayed a signal upon a goal.[42][43][44] France's second goal in their group game against Honduras was the first time goal-line technology was needed to confirm that a goal should be given.[45]
Following successful trials,[nb 4] FIFA approved the use of vanishing spray by the referees for the first time at a World Cup Finals. The water-based spray, which disappears within minutes of application, can be used to mark a ten-yard line for the defending team during a free kick and also to draw where the ball is to be placed for a free kick.[46]
The Adidas Brazuca was the official match ball of the 2014 FIFA World Cup[47][48][49][50] and was supplied by Forward Sports of Sialkot, Pakistan.[47] Adidas created a new design of ball after criticisms of the Adidas Jabulani used in the previous World Cup. The number of panels was reduced to six, with the panels being thermally bonded. This created a ball with increased consistency and aerodynamics compared to its predecessor. Furthermore, Adidas underwent an extensive testing process lasting more than two years to produce a ball that would meet the approval of football professionals.
Cooling breaks
[edit]Due to the relatively high ambient temperatures in Brazil, particularly at the northern venues, cooling breaks for the players were introduced.[51] Breaks could take place at the referee's discretion after the 30th minute of each half if the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature exceeded 32 °C (90 °F); the breaks would last 3 minutes, with this time made up by an extended period of stoppage time at the end of the half.
The first cooling break in a World Cup play took place during the 32nd minute of the match between the Netherlands and Mexico in the round of 16.[52][53][54][55] At the start of the match, FIFA listed the temperature at 32 °C (90 °F) with 68% humidity.[56]
Anti-doping
[edit]The biological passport was introduced in the FIFA World Cup starting in 2014. Blood and urine samples collected from all players before the competition, and from two players per team per match, were analysed by the Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses.[57] FIFA reported that 91.5% of the players taking part in the tournament were tested before the start of the competition and none tested positive.[58] However, FIFA was criticised for how it conducted doping tests.[59][60]
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