A video on social media has shown former Rangers player Fernando Ricksen calling for fans to turn out for his “final night”.
Ricksen is suffering from motor neurone disease and has previously admitted he will spend his final days in St Andrew’s Hospice in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire.
The video, posted on a Twitter account entitled ‘Ricksen my friend/pauline’, shows the Dutchman in a hospice bed with his computer-generated voice calling for supporters to turn out for a “night to remember”.
With a heavy heart I post this lets make this a special night for Fernando pic.twitter.com/C8octfW8NU— Ricksen my friend/pauline (@broxi63) June 9, 2019
“Hello, I’m having a special night on the 28th,” he said. “Since it’s getting very difficult for me, this will be my final night.
“Come and make this a night to remember. Hopefully see you soon, Fernando.”
The same account is advertising “An Evening with Fernando Ricksen” at GoGlasgow Urban Hotel on June 28 with his former Rangers team-mate Marvin Andrews also due to attend.
Fernando Ricksen battles for possession with Celtic’s Alan Thompson during his playing days (Andrew Milligan/PA)
The video post was retweeted by Ricksen’s close friend and biographer, Vincent De Vries.
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The former Zenit St Petersburg player set up the Fernando Ricksen Foundation in 2016, raising money to fight MND, which attacks the nerves that control movement so muscles no longer work.
Ricksen, who made more than 250 appearances for Rangers between 2000 and 2006, revealed he had the terminal illness in 2013.
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