MARDAN: A referee was killed when a player attacked him with a knife after arguing with him during a football match at the Mardan Sports Complex here on Saturday.

The slain referee identified as Saad Ali Shah got severe injuries as a result of knife attack by the accused named Hamad, resident of Katlang.

The referee was rushed to nearby Mardan Medical Complex Hospital by other players after the attack where the doctors referred him to Lady Ready Hospital in Peshawar in precarious condition. However, he succumbed to his injuries on way to Peshawar.

In the statement before he died, Saad Ali told the police he was attacked by Hamad of Katlang tehsil after brawling with him on a point of score.

Sources said the football match ended in a draw, and later, a player of one of the teams, Hamad, argued with the referee and attacked him with a knife.

The Shiekh Maltoon police station lodged FIR against the accused who escaped the area.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2017