The secret World Cup elixir: Bizarre sideline cure rescues Referee Felix Zwayer following painful World Cup cramp

19.06.26 FT World Cup

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German referee Felix Zwayer halted the USA vs Australia World Cup tie on Friday 19 Jun after a painful cramp triggered a bizarre medical rescue.

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An unexpected stoppage in injury time

The high-stakes Group D clash between the United States & Australia took a highly unusual turn in the 93 minute of the match.

German referee Felix Zwayer suddenly collapsed to the grass clutching his leg in clear agony. Play was frozen for over 90 second as players from both sides rushed to assist the match official.

Socceroos midfielder Aiden O’Neill and American star forward Folarin Balogun teamed up with an assistant referee to manually stretch Zwayer's hamstring right on the pitch.

While the stadium crowd reacted with playful jeers, Mexican fourth official Katia García sprinted from the touchline carrying a tiny plastic bottle. Zwayer quickly downed the mysterious liquid and miraculously stood right back up to finish refereeing the final minutes of the game.

The science behind the sour solution

The secret remedy turned out to be none other than pickle juice, the leftover salty brine from pickled vegetables that is heavily fortified with extra vitamins and minerals for elite athletes.

When a human body faces extreme physical exhaustion, the brain can misfire and send hyperactive neural signals to tired muscles causing violent cramps.The natural electrolytes found in pickle juice particularly sodium and potassium, trigger a unique chemical reflex in the back of the mouth and throat.

This reflex immediately sends an emergency signal to the central nervous system telling the brain to switch off the muscle cramp in under a minute. According to a report by the BBC, sports nutrition lecturer Dr. Mayur Ranchordas explained that pickle juice stops agonizing cramps roughly 40% faster than regular water while simultaneously boosting an athlete's blood sugar and vitamin C levels.

Terrible taste, Elite results

Because of its incredibly rapid impact, professional sports teams never use the drink as a preventative measure but rather as an instant emergency cure for dehydration and severe fatigue.

However the heavy mix of vinegar, salt, dill, and garlic makes it a very tough flavor to stomach.

While paying around £28 ($37) for a single 12-pack of these pocket-sized sports shots sounds incredibly steep for average fans, elite sporting organizations view it as a mandatory investment.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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