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Copa America Assistant Referee Collapsed Due to High Temperatures
Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau was lauded for reacting quickest and rushing to help an assistant referee who collapsed during their 1-0 win over Peru in the Copa America second Group A match on Tuesday.
The Guatemalan linesman Humberto Panjoj fainted at the touchline in stoppage time of the first half after due to the searing Kansas temperatures and humidity at the Children's Mercy Park prompting the Canadian goalkeeper to quickly call over the medical staff.
Panjoj was attended to at the sideline after which he regained stability and even stood up but immediately seemed to lose consciousness again forcing the medics to evacuate him on a stretcher.
The incident happened under extreme weather conditions that had temperatures reaching 33 degrees Celsius with 51% humidity during the game. And while the the big portion of the touchline was under shade of the stadium stands, the Guatemalan was unfortunately operating in the area blasted by the sun.
In the second half Panjoj was replaced by his Ecuadorian counterpart Ricardo Fabian Cardrova.
The assistant referee is not the only one who has been seriously affected by the summer elements as Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo revealing that he was subbed off at halftime of their 3-1 victory over Panama in Miami on Sunday after becoming dizzy due to heat and dehydration.
Considering that 8 of the 14 total stadiums hosting the Copa America matches across the US are open air, CONMEBOL who are the organizers of the tournament have published the protocols of dealing with the extreme conditions expected to face players and officials during the competition.
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