Soccer:A linesman affiliated to Dutch youth club Buitenboys has died after being assaulted by players in a match on Sunday, the club have announced.

Richard Nieuwenhuizen, 41, was rushed to hospital after being punched and kicked by players from opponents Nieuw-Sloten. His club announced last night on Twitter: “With great sadness we announce the death of our  Buitenboys linesman Richard Nieuwenhuizen. Our thoughts are with his family.

“Our linesman Richard died at 17:30 in front of his family. This violence must stop on the pitch! #stopsenselessviolence.” According to reports in Holland, three teenage Nieuw-Sloten players were arrested and taken into police custody.

The Amsterdam club have responded by banning the players involved in the incident, withdrawing from the league in which the game took place and temporarily suspending all their operations as a club. A statement on the club’s website read: “The board of sv Nieuw-Sloten learned with horror of the death of the linesman of Buitenboys. We are deeply shocked by the fact that the match on Sunday degenerated so badly, with this result.

“We express here our sympathy, firstly to the family of the deceased person. Words fail us. In addition, we also express our sympathy to the Buitenboys club and all its members.”