Football match ends in tragedy after furious player shoots and kills referee following red card

A soccer match ended in tragedy when a young player shot and killed the referee after he showed him a red card for a foul.

The attacker, who is still at large and being hunted by the police, also shot another footballer, aged 25, in the chest but he survived.

Police said the man being sought for the fatal shooting had the gun in his backpack and ran on to the pitch as the game was continuing.

He shot the referee three times, hitting him in the head, chest and neck.

The horrific incident happened in the Córdoba district of Argentina yesterday.

The dead referee has been named as César Flores, who was 48. The other player seriously injured was Walter Zárate who was rushed to hospital but is said to be out of danger.

The attacker was apparently sent off for flooring an opponent during the game

"It all happened during the match," said a police spokesman. "We don't know what happened with the referee but the player was angry and went to get his gun and killed him."