A fiery encounter took place in the Copa America during Tuesday's Group A clash between Peru and Canada when Marcos Lopez headbutted Alistair Johnston.
The drama peaked in the 38th minute of the clash when Canadian player Johnston was brought to his knees in Kansas City following an exchange with Peru's Lopez. Judging by the replay, it was concluded that Lopez had headbutted the Canadian defender. Despite VAR stepping in for a closer look, no red card was issued, sparking fury among fans online.
"Sorry, WHAT? " exclaimed a dismayed Canadian fan on Twitter. "Peru's Marcos Lopez drops a blatant headbutt on Alistair Johnston. VAR looks at it and doesn't do anything about it. Embarrassing decision."
One observer pointed out: "If Alistar Johnston hits the ground like a ton of bricks, Lopez is sent off. But because he takes it like a man no one bats an eye. The game is gone."
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Opinions were divided, however, with some supporters arguing against a red card. One fan argued on Twitter: "That amount of force wouldn't crush an ant." Another suggested: "That's an easy yellow."
The match remained intense, racking up 31 fouls between the teams. The atmosphere only intensified after a reckless tackle by Peru's Miguel Araujo. Araujo's initial ball win near midfield turned sour as his subsequent slide caught substitute Jacob Shaffelburg high on the leg.
Initially, the referee reached for a yellow card but, after further deliberation, he decided to issue a red card for violent conduct in the 59th minute. Peru fans expressed their anger online, arguing that a similar incident involving Argentinian midfielder Rodrigo De Paul in a subsequent Copa America game should have resulted in the same punishment.
With an extra player on the field, Canada took control of the match, and a neat finish from striker Jonathan David gave the North Americans a crucial 1-0 lead with just 15 minutes left on the clock. Tuesday's win marked American coach Jesse Marsch's first victory since taking charge this summer, putting Canada in a strong position to potentially survive the group stages.
Miguel Araujo received red after a reckless challenge (Getty Images)However, before Araujo's red card or David's goal, a worrying incident occurred when assistant referee Humberto Panjoj collapsed during the first-half stoppage time. He lay on the pitch for several minutes before being assisted onto a stretcher. The Children's Mercy Park announcer revealed during half-time that Panjoj was receiving medical attention. No official statement has been released yet.
The sweltering heat in Kansas City has been highlighted as a possible cause for Panjoj's sudden collapse. With the mercury hitting 91 degrees during the incident, and humidity levels soaring above 50%, conditions felt more like they were in the triple digits. The scorching temperatures have already taken a toll on another player, Ronald Araujo, who had to be pulled out of Uruguay's win over Panama on Sunday due to severe dehydration.
"The truth is I'm still a bit dizzy now," admitted Araujo after he could only manage the first 45 minutes of the game. "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."
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