The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Carolina Panthers 27-21 after going ahead with a scheduled match a day after of one of their players killed himself.

The crowd at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium observed a moment of silence for victims of domestic violence and their families.

There was no mention of Jovan Belcher who killed 22-year-old Kasandra Perkins before driving to the NFL team’s practice facility and turning the gun on himself.

Coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Scott Pioli tried to stop Belcher, but could only watch as he shot himself in the head.

The Chiefs’ chairman Clark Hunt offered sympathy to the families affected by the murder-suicide on Sunday, calling it “an incredibly difficult 24 hours for our family”.

He said the Chiefs consulted with the league about whether to play the game as scheduled, but ultimately left it up to the coach and the team captains to decide.

The Chiefs rallied to win their second game of the season 27-21.

Police have not released a motive for the shootings but said the couple had been arguing recently. They had a three-month-old daughter who is being cared for by family.

Belcher was a 25-year-old native of West Babylon, New York, on Long Island, who played college football at Maine.

He had played in all 11 of the Chiefs’ games this season.

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