This is the astonishing moment a referee knocked out a furious coach with a karate kick to the face during a match in the Peruvian league.
Referee Luis Alegre used a right-foot karate kick when a member of the losing team`s coaching staff entered the field and approached him aggressively with a plastic bottle.
The kick connected with the coach’s head, causing him to fall and prompting police intervention.
The situation escalated as the referee and his assistants were surrounded by angry players seeking retaliation.
The incident occurred in the 82nd minute of a Copa Peru match between Sport Huaquilla and Magdalena CEDEC in Ancash, north of Lima.
TV footage shows the event unfolded after referee Mr. Alegre issued a red card, seemingly after a linesman pointed towards someone from the Magdalena bench.
Video footage indicates that the referee was skilled in martial arts. His right foot made full contact with the jaw of the coach, who had charged at him with a plastic water bottle.
Remarkably, Luis managed to hold onto the red card in his left hand despite the quick reaction to the assault.
A linesman near the incident ran towards them, seemingly trying to protect his colleague, before attempting to calm the escalating situation elsewhere on the field.
The coach who was kicked stood up shortly after falling, appearing disoriented.
Fortunately for his safety, he was restrained by a player from his own team, who put his arms around him and led him away, preventing further reaction.
Match commentators, reacting after the fact, said: “Calm down lads, calm down,” and then, as police intervened: “This sort of thing can’t happen.”
The match was stopped after the incident.
It is unclear whether the coach required hospitalization or if either he or the referee will face disciplinary actions.
Marcus Bellamy