César Flores was refereeing an amateur soccer match in the Córdoba province of Argentina when he sent one player off. In anger, the player left the field to get something from his bag. A short time later, the player returned to the field with a gun and shot the ref to death.


The Guardian has some additional details:

A police source told the Efe news agency: “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.” Local reports said Flores was shot three times, in the head, chest and neck, while another player, Walter Zárate, was injured, but is understood to be out of danger.


This, sadly, is why some South American refs believe arming the officials is perfectly reasonable, if not outright necessary.

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