Warren Barton was left “dripping with blood” after being hit by an apparent beer bottle during his World Cup 2026 commentary duties in Colombia’s 3-1 win over Uzbekistan.
Barton was at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City to team up with Jacqui Oatley during the Fox broadcast. The wild atmosphere saw both commentators drenched with beer in the first half after Daniel Munoz broke the deadlock for Colombia.
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The wild scenes continued in the second half when Barton appeared to be hit by a projectile in the closing stages of the contest, though the former Newcastle and Wimbledon player persevered with the commentary to the end, which saw a frantic finale, including Jaminton Campaz’s stoppage-time strike.
Colombia’s Jaminton Campaz celebrates scoring their third goal (Reuters)
Later, Oatley posted an update on X, revealing that Barton was “OK” after the incident. “That was an unusual one,” she said. “Getting drenched in beer while commentating on a goal (quite refreshing, actually) and poor Warren Barton as whacked/cut in the head by a flying bottle!
“I heard him being hit and turned round to see blood trickling down his forehead. He’s OK. Poor cameraman wiped out/injured by tackle too.”
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In the 96th minute of stoppage time, Oatley commented on-air: “Warren is busy being assaulted by a fan behind us… chucking a cup. I hope it was empty, are you alright?”
Barton replied: “I think yeah. I’ve been seeing a few double players.”
While Barton also noted how Colombia were holding on to their precious 2-1 lead with their fans nervous: “I think it shows you the frustration [of the Colombia fans].”
But Oatley continued in shock a minute later: “Warren’s got an actual cut to the head, you’re dripping with blood… I’m not joking. What on earth was it, a full bottle of something?”
Barton shrugged off the effect of the cut though: “No, I know. It’s OK. It’s good. Whatever it was, it was sharp, but I’m OK.”
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Oatley concluded the broadcast referencing the crazy atmosphere: “Nobody in Mexico City is going to get much sleep tonight.”
It was not the only bizarre incident in the game, either, after a cameraman appeared to hurt his ankle after colliding with Luis Diaz in the first half.
Colombia fans celebrate after the match (Reuters)
The Bayern Munich star was fouled on the touchline by Man City defender Abdukodir Khusanov, leading to the winger hurtling into the cameraman, while Oatley noted later in the game that he had “disappeared”.
Luis Diaz had inspired Los Cafeteros into a lead, assisting Munoz’s opener and scoring a second either side of Abbosbek Fayzullaev’s historic first goal for Uzbekistan at a World Cup.
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And Jamintn Campaz sent the Azteca wild in stoppage time with a third goal for Colombia to lift them top of Group K and ahead of Portugal, who were held by DR Congo earlier on Wednesday.
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