Referee shot dead by footballer after receiving red card

A referee was shot dead by a soccer player after he was red-carded and sent off the pitch.

The reported murder of Cesar Flores, 48, took place in Campo de la Ribera in Argentina over the weekend, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Police reportedly said the player retrieved a gun from his bag after receiving the red card, returned to the field during the game and shot the referee.

“It all happened during the football match. We don’t know [exactly what took place], but it appears the player was angry, fetched a gun and killed him,” a police source told Efe news agency.

Police were currently searching for the player.