A footballer has been sacked after allegedly hurling a rock at a linesman’s face, leaving him with a fractured cheekbone.
Jhon Perlaza was playing for Club Deportivo Ciudad de Yantzaza in a match against Río Aguarico FC in Ecuador when the incident unfolded on Saturday (17 October).
As players protested against the referee on the pitch, Perlaza allegedly picked up a stone near the substitute’s bench and threw it at assistant referee Lenin Ojeda.
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His first attempt missed, but he allegedly launched a second stone moments later, striking Ojeda directly in the face and knocking him to the turf.
The injured official was helped by medical staff before being taken to hospital by ambulance, as reported by Need To Know.
Reports said he suffered a fractured cheekbone and visible injuries around his left eye, although no official medical update on his condition had been released by Monday (19 October).
The match, part of Ecuador’s 2026 Ascenso Nacional in the Group D semi-final stage of the third-tier Segunda Categoría, ended in a 1-0 win for Río Aguarico FC.
Ciudad de Yantzaza subsequently issued a statement condemning the incident, apologising publicly and announcing Perlaza’s immediate dismissal from the club.
The Ecuadorian Referees’ Association said it would pursue criminal proceedings against Perlaza over the severity of Ojeda’s injuries.
Luis Muentes, of the association, told local media: “The player will face criminal prosecution because we cannot let this go unpunished.”
Muentes added: “We hope the player’s punishment will be announced, and we hope football will never be played at that stadium again.”
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