CONMEBOL have provided an update on referee Humberto Panjoj – who collapsed while working the sidelines of the Copa America game between Canada and Peru on Tuesday afternoon.
Panjoj, the assistant referee for the match, was taken to a nearby hospital after his collapse during the game.
But CONMEBOL says that he is in stable condition and has been discharged from a local healthcare center.
In an email obtained by Yahoo Sports, CONMEBOL says that Panjoj had ‘suffered from dehydration’.
The match took place at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City on a day where temperatures hit well over 90 degrees and the heat index topped triple digits as the second half started.
Guatemalan assistant referee Humberto Panjoj is in stable condition after collapsing Tuesday
Panjoj passed out in the heat and was stretchered off the pitch in the Canada-Peru match
While the match was low attended, many of the fans decided to move to the more shaded part of the ground to avoid the heat.
Panjoj was working on the sunny half of the stadium when he collapsed.
This is not the first time that heat has been a factor in this edition of the Copa America.
In a game between Panama and Uruguay in Miami, Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo admitted to leaving the pitch at halftime due to heat and dehydration – saying he ‘was a bit dizzy’ when heading into the locker room.
As for the match in Kansas City, Canada won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Jonathan David in the 74th minute.
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