In a terrifying event that occurred in Kansas City on Tuesday night, an official during Canada’s Copa America match vs Peru collapsed.
Copa America game interrupted when referee collapsed
Guatemalan assistant referee Humberto Panjoj had to be taken from the field on a stretcher during extra time in the first half after Canadian goalie Maxime Crepeau desperately asked for emergency medical personnel to rush the official’s aid.
However, Panjoj is said to have quickly got up after scaring spectators, before he was then put on the stretcher.
“Second assistant referee fell to the ground. Game immediately stops. It’s extremely hot here in Kansas City. Hoping he’s okay. Being attended to right now,’’ ESPN’s Luis Miguel Echegaray wrote on X.
As Panjoj was leaving the field, the supporters applauded him. Tuesday’s game began with a heat index of above 100 degrees and 51 percent humidity in Kansas City.
Panjoj was eventually replaced on the sidelines, as the teams emerged from the tunnel for the second half,
Uruguay defender Ronald Aurajo, disclosed earlier this week that he was replaced during La Celeste’s 3-1 victory over Panama because he was experiencing the symptoms of heat exhaustion and dehydration in Miami, Florida.
