SAO PAULO, Brazil -- FIFA said Wednesday it is not considering changing kickoff times or adding mandatory cooling breaks during World Cup matches, despite being sued by Brazils players union because of health concerns. Jonathan Newsome Jerseys . FIFA said it spent nearly two years analyzing starting times for the tournament in Brazil and always took into consideration the players health. The players federation filed a lawsuit this week to change kickoff times of the 24 matches scheduled to start at 1 p.m. local time (1600 GMT), saying players would be at risk because of intense heat and humidity in some venues. It said FIFA, at least, must introduce two-minute water breaks in each half during those matches. The players federation is asking for a temporary injunction against FIFA but theres no timetable on a ruling. "FIFAs medical team is always monitoring carefully all venues during any FIFA competition to protect the players health," footballs governing body said in a statement. "Cooling breaks will be considered on a match-by-match basis for the 64 matches. Official and mandatory cooling breaks will not be pre-established. Rather, climate conditions will be evaluated prior to each match by the FIFA venue medical officer." There were similar health concerns during the 1994 World Cup in the United states, when temperatures reached the mid-30s (Celsius) in some of the games. Extreme heat is also a problem for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with FIFA considering moving the tournament to winter to avoid the hot weather in the Gulf nation. FIFA said it already made the schedule changes it felt were needed in the Brazilian cities with the highest temperatures. It will be winter in Brazil during the World Cup, but it may be hot and humid in many of the 12 host cities, especially in the northeastern and northern regions. "One core aspect in defining the kickoff times was the very thorough analysis of the historical climate data in all venues," FIFA said. "Therefore, the venues with the highest average temperatures such as Manaus, Cuiaba and Fortaleza do not have any matches with 1 p.m. kickoff times during group stage." Seven matches had their kickoff times altered by FIFA last year. The players federation, known as Fenapaf, wants the changes based on local labour regulations and a study conducted by renowned Brazilian sports doctor Turibio Leite. The study was requested by Fenapaf and FIFPro, the international players union. "We have been trying to discuss this with FIFA for nearly two years and they wont even sit down to talk to us," federation president Rinaldo Martorelli told The Associated Press in a phone interview. "The only alternative was to seek legal action. We really hope that they make the changes in kickoff times, but if that doesnt happen, they need to at least make the cooling breaks mandatory." FIFPro did meet with FIFA last year to discuss the issue, although no direct action was taken at the time. FIFA said that defining the World Cup match schedule is a "complex process" that involves "detailed assessments" from experts in several areas, with players health the "highest priority." It said other considerations include travel logistics and the global television market. FIFPro last year accused FIFA of considering "the demands of TV companies of greater importance than the health and safety of the players." FIFA officially approved referees to implement cooling breaks in 2013, though water breaks were made during the final of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when Argentina beat Nigeria in grueling conditions at the Birds Nest. Robert Mathis Jerseys .C. -- The Grand Rapids Griffins are back atop the Western Conference thanks to a gritty come-from-behind win Saturday night. Delano Howell Jerseys . The Scotsman was dismissed only five days after being told by the club he would remain in charge for the "foreseeable future. MADRID, Spain -- Fernando Llorentes brace helped Athletic Bilbao to a 4-2 comeback win at Schalke in the Europa League, while Atletico Madrid beat Hannover 2-1 in the other first-leg quarterfinal between Spanish and German teams on Thursday. After Llorente put Bilbao ahead in the 20th minute, Schalkes Raul Gonzalez rallied the hosts back in front with two goals on each side of halftime. But Llorente headed in the leveler in the 73rd to turn the high-tempo contest in Bilbaos favour for good, as Oscar de Marcos and Iker Muniain scored late on at Veltins Arena. "It was a great game," Llorente said. "It wasnt at all easy because they responded very well to our first goal. What Raul did was incredible. You cant ask anything more of a match." Also, Dutch league leader AZ Alkmaar beat Valencia 2-1, while Sporting Lisbon downed Ukrainian side Metalist Kharkiv 2-1. The second legs will be next Thursday. Both sides started well but Bilbao struck first through Llorente when he poked in his own rebound that goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand failed to hold on to. Bilbaos lead lasted just two minutes before Raul redirected Atsuto Uchidas cross inside the near post. The former Real Madrid star then made it 2-1 in the 60th with a dipping volley from outside the area. With Schalke pressing for another goal, Llorente muscled by a pair of defenders to flick in a corner for his 25th goal in all competitions. Back in the game, Bilbao showed the same attacking flair that led it to ousting Manchester United in the previous round as De Marcos netted the winner in the 81st off a rebound and Muniain sealed the win in stoppage time on a counterattack. "We knew they were good on the break, but we let our guard down," Schalke defender Christian Fuchs said. "Everyone wiill now be against us, but we can still pull off a miracle. Adam Vinatieri Jerseys. We need three goals but anything is possible." At Vicente Calderon Stadium, Radamel Falcao capitalized on Atleticos early dominance by heading home a free kick nine minutes in for his seventh goal of the competition this season. The Colombia striker is the Europa Leagues all-time leading scorer with 22 in 23 appearances. Hannover pulled even through Mame Dioufs 38th-minute goal and looked set to head back to Germany with a positive result until Eduardo Salvio blasted in a strike from long range to grab Atletico the victory in the 89th. "Thank God for the goal, it gives us some breathing room heading to Germany," Salvio said. In the Netherlands, Australia midfielder Brett Holman scored one and created another as AZ Alkmaar bettered Valencia, the third representative of the Spanish league to make the final eight. Holman put AZ in front with a powerful volley in the 45th but Mehmet Topal levelled for Valencia six minutes later off a header. Maarten Martens converted Holmans cross from six yards in the 78th to earn the win for AZ. Striker Roberto Soldado had two chances for Valencia just before Mertens goal but was twice denied by AZ goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado Brown. Sporting dealt Metalist Kharkiv its first away defeat in the competition with second-half goals from Marat Izmailov and Emiliano Insua. Izmailov scored off a cross from Diego Capel in the 51st minute, and Insua extended the Portuguese clubs lead 13 minutes later with a low drive from a free kick. Cleiton Xavier got a valuable away goal for Metalist Kharkiv with a 90th-minute penalty. Sporting has won all of its home games in the tournament this season but had yet to concede a goal at Jose Alvalade Stadium. cheap jerseys ' ' '
