Amateur footballer on run in Mexico after ‘killing a referee with headbutt for sending him off’

POLICE are hunting an amateur footballer accused of killing a referee by headbutting him after he was red-carded.

Fans thought the official had fainted after being knocked unconscious in the assault.

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But Red Cross workers were unable to revive him after racing to his aid and discovering he had no pulse.

The AWOL player, who reportedly fled the scene in a pick-up truck amid chaotic scenes as the ref was receiving medical attention, was named locally as Ruben Rivera Vazquez.

The Mexican official, whose body was covered with a small blue tarpaulin which left his feet and part of his right leg exposed until a judge arrived and let undertakers remove him, was named as Victor Trejo.

The shocking incident occurred on Sunday morning at around 10.30am local time at a pitch called “Amigos del Balon” – Spanish for “Friends of the Ball” in Tulancingo in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.

The player blamed for the ref’s death was representing a Sunday league side called Canarios-Roja Gomez.
He reportedly lost his temper after being red-carded for protesting a foul.

He was still believed to be on the run today.

Last week a referee was headbutted by a rival fan during a match in Algeria, but escaped serious injury.

Over the weekend a Brazilian footballer had to be held back by seven teammates after being red carded and pushing the ref to the ground.

Police with riot shields had to protect the official as Guarani full-back Antonio Ferreira tried to assault him again following his sending off.