World football has been struck with another on-field tragic death as former Newcastle Jets player Bernardo Rebeiro died after suffering a heart attack while playing an amateur match in Brazil.
The news comes as a shock after Dinamo Bucuresti player Patrick Ekeng died on Saturday while plaing a match in the Romanian league. 26-year-old Rebeiro played for A-League’s Newcastle Jets and also had brief spells in Albania, Italy and Finland. The Brazilian was playing for Friburgense in the Rio State Championship on Sunday when he collapsed.
A club statement, released soon after the death was confirmed, read:
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“The Nova Friburgo sporting community is in mourning. Friburgense Athletic Club says farewell to a great athlete and human being, loved by every single player, member of the technical staff, director and club official. Our deepest sympathies to the Frizao family and all the family of Bernardo Ribeiro.”
Newcastle Jets too came out in support of their former player:
The thoughts & prayers of everyone at @NewcastleJetsFC are with Bernardo Ribeiro's family & friends. Rest In Peace. https://t.co/4h10Ca0CG5
— NEWCASTLE JETS FC ✈️ (@NewcastleJetsFC) May 8, 2016
