WARNING, GRAPHIC VIDEO: A footballer who hurled a rock at an assistant referee's face has been sacked by his club and now footage of the horrifying incident has emerged

A footballer has been sacked after hurling a rock at a linesman’s face, leaving him with a fractured cheekbone. Footage of the horrifying incident has now emerged after it was caught on camera.

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, October 17. As players protested against the referee on the pitch, Perlaza picked up a stone while hiding behind an oil drum near the substitute's bench and threw it at assistant referee Lenin Ojeda.

His first attempt missed, but he launched a second stone moments later, striking Ojeda directly in the face and knocking him to the turf, clutching his face in agony.

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The injured official was helped by medical staff before being taken to hospital by ambulance, as reported by NeedToKnow.

Reports said he suffered a fractured cheekbone and visible injuries around his left eye, although no official medical update on his condition has yet been released.

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."