A South African man who wanted to watch a World Cup football match instead of a religious program was beaten to death by his family in the north eastern part of the country.

David Makoeya, a 61-year-old man from the small village of Makweya, Limpopo province, fought with his wife and two children for the remote control on
Sunday because he wanted to watch Germany play Australia in the World Cup.

The others, however, wanted to watch a gospel show.

Police spokesman Mothemane Malefo says Makoeya got up to change the channel by hand after being refused the remote control and was attacked by his 68-year-old wife Francina and two children, 36-year-old son Collin and 23-year-old daughter Lebogang.

The World Cup, which is being played in Africa for the first time, started Friday and runs through July 11.