A referee collapsed on the field during the first half of Canada’s Copa America match against Peru on Tuesday afternoon.
Assistant referee Humberto Panjoj fell near the sideline just before halftime of the game at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. according to El Atlético. Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau got to Panjoj first and turned him onto his back before frantically asking him for help on the field. First, it is unclear what led to the incident. It was not shown at the time, as the game was on the other end of the field at the time, and Fox did not show the replay.
Medical staff treated Panjoj on the field before taking him out on a stretcher.
One of the assistant referees of Peru-Canada is down on the field, it is the sunny side and it is in the 90s pic.twitter.com/VQ50WsCcJH
— CJ Fogler’s account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) June 25, 2024
While details are still unknown, the region was under a heat advisory Tuesday afternoon. Temperatures topped 90 degrees and the heat index had surpassed 100 degrees as the second half began. Many fans had moved to the shaded areas of the stadium when the second half began due to the heat as well.
More than half of the venues hosting Copa America matches are outdoors as the United States faces a nationwide heat wave. Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo even revealed that he had to abandon the win over Panama at halftime due to heat and dehydration, as he “was a little dizzy” when he returned to the locker room for half-time.
Canada and Peru were tied 0-0 at halftime on Tuesday afternoon.
This post will be updated with more information shortly.