Facundo Tello, the main referee of the match between DR Congo and Jamaica, left the game due to an injury. With just a few minutes remaining, he was seen holding one of his legs and showing a distressed expression.
His replacement was his compatriot Dario Herrera, who had been serving as the fourth official. The heat and the length of the match may have been decisive factors.
Although the relevant tests are still pending, it appears to be a muscle injury. It will be a matter of waiting to finally see what happened.
Tello is one of the referees highly regarded by FIFA. In addition to being present in this playoff, he also officiated at the last World Cup in Qatar, as well as at Euro 2024.
😳❌| IH RAPAZ! SENTIU PROFESSOR?
— Cristian Moraes (@ocrismoraes) March 31, 2026
Facundo Raul Tello Figueroa, árbitro de RD Congo e Jamaica, SENTIU O JOELHO na prorrogação e paralisou o jogo.@territoriomls pic.twitter.com/L7xUUWTJO4
What happens when a referee gets injured during the match?
According to FIFA regulations, if a referee becomes unable to continue due to injury, they are replaced by the fourth official. If the fourth official is also unavailable, the most senior assistant referee typically takes over, ensuring the match proceeds without further delay.
The match? DR Congo defeated Jamaica
DR Congo secured their ticket to the 2026 World Cup in dramatic fashion, knocking out Jamaica with a 1-0 victory in extra time. After a scoreless 90 minutes of gritty, defensive play, the Leopards finally broke the deadlock in the added period to punch their ticket to the big dance.
It’s a heartbreaking finish for the Reggae Boyz, but a historic night for Congo as they officially join Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan in Group K.
