“He is clinically dead,” police spokesman Bernhard Jens told AFP. Police arrested three 15 and 16-year-olds from visiting Amsterdam club Nieuwe Sloten for allegedly beating the linesman shortly after the final whistle in Sunday’s match against Buitenboys in neighbouring city Almere.

Dutch media said the linesman had been repeatedly insulted during the match. During the post-match beating he was kicked in the head and taken to hospital later in the evening after feeling unwell, police said. Police arrested three youths from Amsterdam.