Footie badboy Nile Ranger facing probe after ‘sending tribute to tragic Cheick Tiote on Instagram from prison’
Shamed star was team-mates with Cheick Tiote whilst the duo were at Newcastle together
JAILED footballer Nile Ranger is set to face a probe after a tribute to Cheick Tiote appeared on his Instagram account.
The football badboy is currently serving eight months behind bars after admitting online banking fraud.
It is against the law for a British prisoner to use social media sites or have a mobile phone whilst locked up.
Although it is not certain whether Ranger posted the message himself or someone else uploaded it.
Ranger's former team-mate Tiote tragically passed away on Monday at the age of 30 after collapsing at Beijing Enterprises training ground.
His message read: "Sad to hear the news about my brother Cheick Tiote.
"He would go through a brick wall, give you a two footed tackle in training a day before a cup final...
"What a guy though, top man and professional, my condolences go out to his family!"
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A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence revealed that Ranger could face a maximum of two years in prison if he was found to have used his phone.
They told the Southend Echo: "This behaviour is unacceptable and we are working to get the content removed from social media. The prison is also investigating.
“It is a criminal offence to bring a mobile phone into prison, or transmit sounds or images from within a prison using a mobile phone. These offences carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison."
Meanwhile Newcastle fans have launched a petition to retire the number 24 shirt in Tiote's honour.