Police in Malawi have arrested a referee and charged him with killing a player in the southern district of Chikwawa this part of March.

McKnight Nyekheya is accused of hitting to death a yet to be identified player of a district football league outfit Billiat FC in a match that he officiated between the club and another local side Chilengo FC.

The incident is said to have occurred when referee Nyekheya disallowed a penalty which prompted Billiat FC players to vent their anger on him.

In the ensuing scuffle, the referee fled to a nearby house, which the players lit on fire and smoke him out, according to District Police spokesperson Benjamin Foster.

“The referee picked up a stick and assaulted one player before he vanished into the maize field,” said Constable Benjamin.

The assaulted player is reported to have died on arrival at the hospital.

Police later arrested Nyekheya when he reported the incident at  Nchalo Police Post and was later transferred to Chikwawa Police Station and is expected to be aliened in court at a yet to be announced date to answer murder charges.