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Moment of silence for Dutch soccer referee

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Soccer matches across the Netherlands Saturday began with a moment of silence for a volunteer official who was fatally beaten during a youth match.

Professional games went on as scheduled, with players wearing black armbands following the somber tributes to Richard Nieuwenhuiizen, the BBC said.

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The Dutch Football Association canceled about 33,000 amateur contests this weekend out of respect for the linesman.

Nieuwenhuisen, 41, was a volunteer linesman who was officiating a match Dec. 2 featuring his son's junior club team Sunday. He was left in a coma after being attacked by players from the other team and died Dec. 3 in Almere.

Four players, ages 15-16, were arrested and faced potential charges including manslaughter.

A task force of 20 detectives continued investigating the incident and have not ruled out further arrests, Britain's Daily Telegraph said.

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