Referee Dies After Soccer Player Shoots Him During Game

The suspect allegedly gunned down the official after being shown a red card.
The player allegedly grabbed a gun from his backpack and shot the referee.
The player allegedly grabbed a gun from his backpack and shot the referee.
Wavebreakmedia Ltd via Getty Images

A soccer player is on the lam in Argentina after he allegedly shot and killed a referee who sent him off.

The man was reportedly shown a red card for hitting another player during an amateur league match in Cordoba on Sunday.

Police say he walked off the pitch and grabbed a gun from his backpack.

He then ran back onto the field of play as the game continued, and allegedly shot 48-year-old official Cesar Flores in the head, chest and neck.

The referee was rushed to Cordoba Hospital, but later died.

A bullet also hit 25-year-old player Walter Zarate in the chest. It's not known whether he was on the same team as the armed assailant. Zarate was hospitalized but is recovering.

“It all happened during the match,” an unidentified police source told news agency Efe. "We don't know what happened with the referee but the player was angry and went to get his gun and killed him."

Police believe they have identified the man, but his name has not yet been released to the media.

Another police source confirmed to La Voz newspaper the shooting wasn't related to gang warfare.

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