A referee in Argentina has been shot dead after issuing a red card.

The tragic incident occurred during an amateur league match in the Cordoba district of Argentina.

The suspect was shown a red card, before reportedly retrieving a handgun from his bag and returning to the field and shooting the 48-year-old referee, Cesar Flores, in the head, neck and chest.

The suspect, who is still at large, also shot another player, 25-year-old Walter Zarate in the chest.

Zarate is a stable condition in hospital.