Three teenage footballers are facing manslaughter charges for allegedly beating a Dutch linesman to death, the public prosecutor said yesterday, with all this weekend’s youth matches cancelled.

All Dutch professional matches are also to hold a minute’s silence and players will wear mourning bands, with the Netherlands in shock after Richard Nieuwenhuizen, 41, died on Monday, the Dutch football federation KNVB said.

Police have not excluded further arrests after three players with Amsterdam club Nieuwe Sloten were arrested.

Nieuwenhuizen was taken to hospital hours after the beating that followed the final whistle in Sunday’s match against neighbouring Almere’s Buitenboys.

“Two 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old from Amsterdam under suspicion of seriously assaulting a 41-year-old linesman of the Buitenboys from Almere will on Thursday (tomorrow) appear before a judge at the Almere court,” the prosecutor’s office said.

“The suspects will appear on charges of manslaughter, assault and public violence,” a statement read.

The judge will decide whether to keep the three youths in detention in Amsterdam.

A silent march will be held in Almere on Sunday afternoon in memory of Nieuwenhuizen, whose own son was playing in the match, according to Dutch media reports.

Bernard Fransen, president of KNVB amateur football, said that he was “very shocked”.

“Amateur football matches will be cancelled this weekend and a minute’s silence will be observed during professional football matches,” he said.

FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, yesterday wrote to the KNVB to express his condolences.

“Football is a mirror of society and sadly, the same ills that afflict society – in this case violence – also manifest themselves in our game,” he said.

“Nevertheless, I remain convinced that football – through the example set by the tireless efforts of people like Mr Nieuwenhuizen – is a force for good, and we must continue use its positive example to educate people against these wrongs.”