Lokeren defender Gregory Mertens has died three days after collapsing during a reserve match, his club have announced.
The 24-year-old lost consciousness in the first half of a meeting with Genk on Monday night and was initially attended to by both the Lokeren and the Genk medical staff before he was transported to hospital.
But on Thursday Lokeren confirmed the player had died, through a statement on their official website.
It read: "Today something happened which no one could ever dare to predict. Much too soon, we are saying goodbye to Gregory Mertens.
"We are a football club. Everyone in and around the club lives and breathes football. But suddenly something happens which makes us realise football is just football. Today is such a time."
Mertens played 11 games for Lokeren this season and made 101 appearances in the Belgian top flight over his short career.
Lokeren said Mertens was medically screened several times during his career, and that nothing pointed toward a fundamental heart problem.
Former Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba, who collapsed with a heart problem during an FA Cup tie against Tottenham three years ago which forced him to retire from the game, expressed his sympathy after hearing of the news.
He wrote on his Twitter account: "Horrible news that Gregory Mertens has passed away, only 24 years old. #RIP."
Met droefheid melden wij u het verlies van Gregory Mertens. Wij wensen de familie en vrienden alle sterkte toe. pic.twitter.com/pV0lDz1UnD
— Sporting Lokeren (@KSCLokeren) April 30, 2015
Manchester City also showed their support by tweeting "Our thoughts are with the friends and family of @KSCLokeren's Gregory Mertens at this sad time."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
