Italian referee Carina Vitulano suffered a knee injury in mid-sprint just a few minutes after kick-off between Ghana and Korea DPR, during the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup. After falling to the ground, Vitulano held the back of her knee while grimacing as fans looked on in shock. She was attended to by medical staff before eventually hobbling off. She attempted to run back onto the pitch before the same lower-body injury caused her to fall to the ground again.
Luckily for FIFA, Canada was set to meet Finland at the conclusion of North Korea’s eventual 3-0 win over Ghana, meaning there were plenty of FIFA officials at the stadium. The Toronto crowd consoled the 39-year-old by applauding her as she was stretchered off the pitch, before fourth official Katalin Kulcsar from Hungary came on in her place. Vitulano most recently refereed at the 2013 UEFA Women’s Euro. Pushing 40, this tournament, considering the injury, might have been her last.
Source: FIFA / Toronto Sun
