Former Newcastle Jets player passed away at the age of 26 on Sunday. PHOTO COURTESY: O GLobo
Former Newcastle Jets midfielder is the second player to die in the past week from heart problems. On Friday, Patrick Ekeng collapsed on the pitch while playing for Dinamo Bucharest in Romanian league.
The Brazilian was playing for Friburguense in his homeland on Saturday when he took ill and had to be replaced. According to Goal.com, he was taken to a hospital but later suffered a fatal heart attack.
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Ribeiro began his professional career with Skënderbeu in Albania, having come through the youth ranks with Flamengo in Brazil and, briefly, Catania in Italy.
He signed for the Jets in August 2012 and made six appearances for the A-League club before heading to Finland with IFK Mariehamn and then back to Brazil with Inter de Lages last year.
Former Jets teammates took to social media to express their condolences.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFI-Ka3sUSG/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFJAP43JItN/
IFK Mariehamn condoled the deceased's wife and family members.
Ribeiro’ wife Katie Ayscough also took to Facebook to express her grief.
“I can’t believe, I don’t want to believe but the realness cannot be ignored,” she said. “Tonight heaven received the most beautiful angel. My best friend, my husband, my everything.”
(With additional input from The Guardian)
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