Tuesday’s Copa America group match between Canada and Peru was delayed approximately five minutes late in the first half after assistant referee Humberto Panjoj collapsed and had to be stretchered off the field.
The 36-year-old Guatemalan was manning the far side in a Group A match that kicked off with temperatures well into the 90s Fahrenheit in Kansas City, Kan.
With Canada standing over a free kick in the other half of the field in roughly the third minute of first-half stoppage time, Panjoj fell to the ground. Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau was the first to reach him, and he immediately waved for medics to come onto the field.
Panjoj tried to rise to his feet after medics arrived and put what was presumably a cold towel on his neck. However, he was still visibly weak and was eventually replaced by alternate referee Ricardo Beren of Ecuador.
As a result of the hot temperatures, the teams were also permitted a hydration break just shy of a half-hour into the first half, which ended scoreless.
–Field Level Media
