FIFA Relocates Photographers After Tuchel's Anthem Complaints

England head coach Thomas Tuchel has successfully lobbied FIFA to move photographers away from the bench during the national anthems, after the pre-match ceremony was marred by obstructed views. The change, which sees photographers grouped closer to the halfway line, was first implemented during a Group A match in Atlanta and will now apply to all affected games in the tournament.

Tuchel voiced his frustration following England's 4-2 victory over Croatia at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Wednesday. The manager revealed that a wall of about 50 photographers, positioned just half a metre away, blocked his view of the players during the playing of the national anthems. "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," he told reporters after the match.

The England boss described the national anthem as a deeply emotional moment that he had long anticipated, adding, "It was a very, very special moment today and I was standing in front of a wall of 50 photographers... It ruined a little bit my experience." The 4-2 win was Tuchel's first match as a World Cup manager.

FIFA responded by agreeing to a compromise that allows coaching staff an unobstructed view of the pitch during the anthem. The issue was partly attributed to the venue setup: the AT&T Stadium, usually home to the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, required the field to be raised 1.2 metres to accommodate the World Cup pitch, reducing sideline space for both coaches and photographers.

The new policy was first tested during Thursday's Group A fixture between Czech Republic and South Africa in Atlanta, and is now being rolled out across all affected games.