• Three teenagers from Nieuw Sloten club in custody • 41-year-old official taken to hospital hours after match

This article is more than 7 years old

This article is more than 7 years old

A Dutch linesman who was beaten and kicked by several players during a youth match in the town of Almere on Sunday died on Monday.

Richard Nieuwenhuizen collapsed and was taken to hospital hours after players from the Amsterdam club Nieuw Sloten punched and kicked him. Nieuwenhuizen's club, Buitenboys, later said the 41-year-old had passed away but did not announce the exact cause of death.

Three players, whose ages range from 15-16, were arrested earlier on Monday for their alleged involvement in the beating.

The Dutch sports minister Edith Schippers told the national broadcaster NOS, even before the news of Nieuwenhuizen's death, that "it is absolutely terrible that something like this can happen on a Dutch sports field".

A police spokeswoman Leonie Bosselaar said shortly before the Nieuwenhuizen's death was announced that the players were still in custody and investigations are continuing. She added that police would not rule out arresting more suspects.

Nieuw Sloten said in a statement on their website they had banned the players involved and pulled their team out of the league. The statement added that such incidents "do not belong on a football field".