Franco Nieto dead: Argentine footballer dies in hooligan attack after being struck on the head with a stone

According to Nieto’s cousin Pablo Nieto, the footballer was heading to his car with his wife and their one-year-old daughter when he was surrounded

Franco Nieto has died after he was hit in the head after a football match on Saturday.

The captain of regional Argentine club Tiro Federal was set upon by a group of hooligans after the team finished their match against rival team Chacarita Juniors.

The match was terminated 15 minutes before full time after a brawl broke out on the pitch.

The referee subsequently sent off eight players.

According to Nieto’s cousin Pablo Nieto, the footballer was heading to his car with his wife and their one-year-old daughter when he was surrounded by three attackers.

They apparently kicked and punched the sportsman, before rendering him unconscious by hitting him over the head with a stone.

Nieto underwent surgery for his injuries on Tuesday, but died on Wednesday.

Fabian Bordon, the local police chief, told local media sources that the force had arrested three men in connection with Nieto’s death.

He becomes the fifteenth person to die in football-related violence this year.