During Friday’s World Cup match in which the United States beat Paraguay 2-0 to reach the knockout stage, an unexpected scene late in stoppage time went viral. German referee Felix Zwayer, in his first match as a head referee at this tournament, went down on the pitch and needed several minutes of medical attention after apparently suffering a muscle strain.
Players from Australia helped treat him, and because the game was nearly over, he stayed on the field rather than being replaced. After a few minutes of stretching, the fourth official ran onto the grass and handed Zwayer what social media dubbed the “mysterious bottle.” The referee drank from it and soon stood up, then signaled for play to continue.
Doctors said the liquid was likely pickle juice, a remedy often used to relieve muscle cramps very quickly, sometimes in under two minutes. According to the explanation cited in the article, it works not by hydrating the body or replacing electrolytes, but through a throat reflex triggered by acetic acid in vinegar, which sends a signal to the nervous system and helps overly contracted muscles relax.
