A 14-year-old boy facing attempted manslaughter charges after kicking another teenager in the face during a football match, was sent home by a juvenile court on Friday.

The public prosecution department wanted to prosecute the boy for attempted manslaughter, but the court said this should be replaced with the lesser charge of grievous bodily harm.

The boy, who plays for club Voetbal Vereniging Tricht, a village club in Gelderland, has been suspended.

The other player, from Almere club Buitenboys, was taken to hospital and allowed home later with slight concussion and facial wounds.

Buitenboys hit the headlines last December when linesman Richard Nieuwenhuizen was attacked by youth players after a match and died a day later.