An assistant at the match between Peru and Canada for the America Cup collapsed on the field, minutes before the end of the first half, amidst the intense heat that hit the Children’s Mercy Park stadium in Kansas City, Kansas, this Tuesday.
The second assistant, Humberto Panjoj, from Guatemala, had to be attended to on the field, while the referee, his compatriot Mario Escobar, stopped the match.
Canadian triumph in Kansas City ✅ pic.twitter.com/8e3hSmL4al
— CONMEBOL Copa América™️ (@CopaAmerica) June 26, 2024
At that moment, Kansas City’s thermometers were showing 33ºC, with a thermal sensation that exceeded 38ºC and humidity of 57%. Environmental authorities warned of an extreme heat wave in the region.
When Panjoj fell face down on the grass, losing consciousness, Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau ran to him and placed him on his back on the field. The goalkeeper began making desperate gestures towards the side of the field to ask emergency teams to come in and give him medical attention.
Panjoj was quickly attended to and managed to get up, helped by his colleagues, as they placed a cold towel on his head, although he showed signs of daze.
Ecuadorian Ricardo Baren, fifth referee, therefore took Panjoj’s place on the line along with Luis Ventura.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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