A leading figure in the hardcore supporters club of Argentine first division side River Plate died on Thursday, two days after being attacked and shot in the head, a hospital spokesman said.

Gonzalo Acro, 29, had been in a coma since being shot three times as he was leaving a gymnasium in the latest bout of soccer-related violence.

'`I inform you that the patient (Acro) died in the early hours of this morning,'` Mario Visiglia, a doctor at the Pirovano hospital in Buenos Aires, told reporters.

Police sources said they were investigating whether Acro's murder was related to in-fighting among the River Plate fan club known as '`Los Borrachos del Tablon.'`

Acro was on a River Plate blacklist banning him from the Monumental stadium and was widely recognised as being the leading figure in one of the fan club's factions.

Last February, the rival factions clashed at the River Plate social club, which adjoins the stadium, leaving a wake of destruction and terrorising families who were using the swimming pool.

Acro, who had a job in River's maintenance department, was one of five employees fired following the incident. River were given a five-match home ban, later reduced to three.