eastern cape police were still searching on monday for a soccer referee who allegedly killed a coach and injured two players in a dispute during a match at kenton-on-sea.
police ınspector mali govender said two local teams, ekuphumuleni and marcelle, were playing a friendly on saturday when the referee gave a yellow card to a marcelle player.
the marcelle players and coach objected to the decision and a fight broke out.
according to witnesses the referee allegedly produced a firearm and shot the marcelle coach in the chest and two players in the hand before fleeing.
the coach died on the scene.
his name was withheld until his family had identified his body, govender said.
"we haven't found him yet but the police worked through the night," said govender.
she said this was the first time such an incident had occurred in the area.
"about eight or nine years ago there was an incident with a slap and a punch, but never anything like this."
soccer referees have been in the spotlight recently as a police investigation into match fixing - requested by the south african football association - has resulted in over 30 referees, club officials, and owners being arrested countrywide.
the democratic alliance expressed concern over the incident and other reports of aggression, as well as reports of thefts from the team's changing rooms.
"lawlessness in local sport - on and off the field - has reached an ultimate high and authorities must now step in to put an end to it," said pine pienaar, da spokesperson for sport in the eastern cape. - sapa
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