Referee kicks Magdalena coaching staffer in the face in chaotic end to Peruvian football match
A referee in Peru unveiled a bizarre self-defence strategy after he was confronted by an angry member of coaching staff in a chaotic ending to the league match.
The Copa Peru match between Sport Huaquillas and Magdalena CEDEC took a dramatic turn in the 82nd minute as the latter team's bench rushed onto the field in protest of the referee's call.
A member of the team's coaching staff was seen attempting to attack referee Luis Alegre with a plastic water bottle, when he copped a boot to the face from the official.
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Alegre's right boot nailed the jaw of the member of coaching staff as he began to respond to several apparent threats of violence he was facing.
A referee in Peru kicks a member of a coaching staff. Perulytics
Magdalena players were seen helping their coaching staffer back to his feet after the incident before pulling him away from the referee.
Police immediately responded to the on-field incident and worked to defuse any further tension between the match officials and the team bench.
A replay of the incident showed a linesmen had alerted Alegre of the behaviour of the team bench, prompting him to reach into his pocket to raise a red card.
Players separate a member of coaching staff after he was kicked by the referee. Perulytics
However, Alegre did not get time to raise the card but did manage to maintain hold of it as he landed the kick.
The game was suspended immediately following the incident.
It remains unclear if Alegre and the member of Magdalena's bench will face disciplinary action for their heated on-field display.
It is also unknown if the man who was kicked required any medical treatment.
The bizarre incident is not the first of its kind in the Peruvian league.
In 2013, Brazilian player Welington Smith was sent off for kicking an opponent in an animated display during Alianza Universidad's clash against Deportivo Municipal.
Smith was shown an instant red card for the act and later hit with a 14-match ban.
