Police in Mexico are hunting an amateur footballer accused of killing a referee by headbutting him after he was red carded.

Fans thought the official had fainted after being knocked unconscious in the assault.

But Red Cross workers were unable to revive him after racing to his aid and discovering he had no pulse, The Daily Mail reports.

The player, who reportedly fled the scene in a pick-up truck amid chaotic scenes as the ref was receiving medical attention, was named locally as Ruben Rivera Vazquez.

The official, whose body was covered with a small blue tarpaulin which left his feet and part of his right leg exposed until a judge arrived and let undertakers remove him, was named as Victor Trejo.

The shocking incident occurred on Sunday morning around 10.30am local time at a pitch called ‘Amigos del Balon’ - Spanish for ‘Friends of the Ball’ in Tulancingo in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.

The player blamed for the ref’s death was representing a Sunday league side called Canarios-Roja Gomez.

He reportedly lost his temper after being red-carded for protesting a foul.