An assistant referee appeared to collapse during the Copa America game between Peru and Canada in Kansas City on Tuesday.
In stifling temperatures at Children’s Mercy Park, assistant referee Humberto Panjoj appeared to collapse leading to a stoppage in play during added time of the first half of the Group A match.
Temperatures in the stadium were as high as 91 degrees with a feels-like temperature of 101 degrees at the time with 51% humidity.
Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau was the first to rush to the Guatemalan official after seeing the incident before alerting referee, Mario Escobar, to get his attention.
Stretchers were immediately brought out before he was treated by medical personnel and taken from the field.
Panjoj was replaced on the sideline by Ecuador’s Ricardo Fabian Baren Cordova when the teams emerged for the second-half.
For the majority of the first half, approximately two-thirds of the field was covered in shade by the stadium’s stands. Yet the section not in shadow was where Panjoj was stationed.
At halftime, nearly every fan seated in the west side of the arena moved towards shaded areas of the stadium.
CONMEBOL, the organisers of this summer’s Copa America in the United States, have published protocols around dealing with the heat with a number of venues expected to see extremely high heat and humidity during the tournament.
Eight of the 14 venues across the U.S. are open air, exposed directly to the elements.
Earlier this week, Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo revealed he was substituted during their opening game with Panama feeling the effects of heat and dehydration.
The 25-year-old played the opening 45 minutes during Uruguay’s 3-1 victory at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday but did not reappear for the second half.
“The truth is I’m still a bit dizzy now,” the Barcelona defender said at full time. “My (blood) pressure went down. When the first half finished I was a bit dizzy and when I reached the dressing room my pressure went down. The doctor said it was a bit of dehydration and I couldn’t continue for the second half.”
