lightning decimates a football team

Fire from the sky fell on a Peruvian football field on Sunday. Results: one dead, one seriously injured and many other players affected. The images of the drama are terrifying.

A horrific incident occurred in Peru on Sunday. In Chilca in the province of Huancayo, at more than 3000 meters above sea level. Lightning struck the Coto Coto stadium while a regional match was being played between Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca.

The tragedy occurred shortly after the match was interrupted by the referee due to weather conditions, as the players returned to the locker room. The chilling footage shows lightning striking defender Jose Hugo de la Cruz Meza, 39. He succumbed to his injuries a few hours later.

Goalkeeper Juan Choca was walking next to him when the sky fell. He is in serious condition and suffers from burns. His days are in danger. Many other players near the point of impact fell to the ground at the same time, abruptly.

This is not the first time lightning has struck a football field. Dramas during matches or training are even common. We reported the death of a player in Indonesia in February then the death of a footballer in the North of France in May. In Switzerland, four young people were hospitalized in 2020, after lightning struck a floodlight in Abtwil (SG). In Peru, there are now calls for better safety protocols at sporting events.

(roc)

During Lucerne-GC (2-0) on Sunday, the video referee (VAR) insisted to the central referee to award a penalty to the Lucerne residents which was in reality non-existent. The boss of the Swiss referees is bitter.

Does GC defender Dirk Abels commit a handball? Even with the best will in the world, watching TV images several times from different angles, we cannot see it. And yet, FC Lucerne obtains a penalty for this action. He transformed it in the 59th minute to lead 2-0 and thus seal the match.