The mysterious concoction given to the referee here is probably pickle juice. Pickle juice relieves muscle cramps rapidly, often in under two minutes, not by rehydrating the body or restoring electrolytes, but through a reflex in the throat. The acetic acid in the vinegar triggers sensory receptors that send... a signal to the nervous system, forcing overactive, cramping muscles to relax.show more

Judging by the disgusted look on the player's face, that's most likely it 🤦

Definitely a look of disgust 🤢🤣

Totally 😂😂

Here is an evidence based summary of treatments for muscle cramps during sports.

The spanish broadcast said it was pickle juice

Our English broadcaster wondered if it was Rum and Coke 😂

Sip it. Don’t gulp. Have seen it work like a charm in an ultra runner. Watched the muscle spasms in his calf calm down. @RenoDrew

@RenoDrew Good point! It works like a distraction technique on oropharyngeal reflexes, so in theory, the ref could have gargled and spat it out 😂

@RenoDrew Exactly! Also, by the time someone starts cramping from exertion, it’s too late to calm the cramps by ingesting & distribution of the electrolytes to the muscles

As soon as i saw the bottle, I knew it was probably pickle juice. Mustard works too but is more wierd sippping on mustard.

Mustard?

@PopC_Theology Wasabi then? Similar taste.

@PopC_Theology In all seriousness, I think that would actually work!

Looked like it to me.

I think it was Jack Daniel’s, or possibly a margarita. He seemed pretty upbeat after.

Pickle juice is basically just vinegar seasoned with cucumber, dill, garlic, mustard seed, peppercorns, coriander seeds, etc.

Studies have shown that pickle juice can relieve some muscle cramps within minutes. It's more like a neurophysiologic hack. The sharp taste activate receptors in the mouth and throat, sending signals through the nervous system that help switch off the muscle cramps.

I’d be waiting in the comment section to see

Or you can check out the paper!

Thanks for recommending that.

Perhaps they need to add a massage break after the hydration break

Hydration for the referees too!

I might be weird, but pickle juice tastes not bad to me. Better than some flavors of sports drinks.

Does it work as well if you LIKE pickle juice & drink it all the time? I usually have a jar or two in the fridge & like a nip now and then.

Every distance runner knows all about pickle juice! 🙌

Wine vinegar was added to Roman legionaires canteen.

Wow I need to remember this one. Thanks Dr Siau!

me before watching every World Cup game

Mustard works as well. It’s almost immediate. My tennis buddies and I use it as needed.

We all know it was Brawndo!!! It’s got electrolytes.

I was shocked to hear the announcer suggest salt tablets. That’s old school and I believe they actually dehydrate you more.

Although…he swallowed it. Supposed to swirl and spit.

Tennis players drink it too when they are experience in cramps.

After I went on my first mountaineering trip, I bought a jar of pickles and just chugged half the jar. I had been dealing with a ton of muscle cramps on the way back. Now it makes sense why I just felt like I needed that much pickle juice.

Prawie w każdym polskim domu o tej porze roku. Ogórki kiszone "małosolne" są potężna dawką witamin, minerałów, elektrolitów. Ja zawsze po ukiszeniu odlewam sok do butelki i trzymam w lodówce. Gdy tylko łapią mnie skurcze pije ten cud natury.

Most likely pickle mixed with coke 🤣🤣

@aj4bird

The ref’s face when he realizes it’s pickle juice😭😭

You are correct. The announcers wrongly said he needed salt. Which might have been true but it would not work very quickly.

Yeah right, I know a stamina potion when I see one

Thank goodness it wasn't the female referee, The imbeciles and incels would have had a field day

No no no. Everyone knows it is water from an Alaskan glacier.

You won’t believe where she kept that pickle

To not have a referee would have left them in a pickle?