CHEICK TIOTE’S son was Newcastle’s mascot against Arsenal tonight – 14 year to the day his late dad scored a dramatic late equaliser against the Gunners. Tiote was just 30 years old when he tragically passed away from cardiac arrest in June 2017. The Ivory Coast midfielder fell ill when training with Chinese side Beijing SU. And his death sent shockwaves around the world of football. Newcastle were left particularly devastated, with Tiote passing away just six months after leaving St James’ Park.
![[Boy in Newcastle United jersey at St James' Park.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/cheick-tiote-s-son-rafael-969441420.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
He played 156 times for Toon from 2010 to 2017, becoming a major fan favourite in the process. And ahead of tonight’s crunch Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal, Newcastle paid tribute to Tiote by making son Rafael their official match mascot. The 11-year-old, who visited the club as a guest in 2021, proudly posed in his black and white stripes at St James’ Park before kick-off. And Rafael’s time in the limelight came exactly 14 years after dad Cheick netted a dramatic late equaliser in Newcastle’s 4-4 draw with Arsenal.
![[Cheik Tiote celebrating a goal.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/newcastle-uniteds-ivorian-midfielder-cheik-511807917.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The league match, which took place in 2011, saw the Gunners race into a 4-0 lead in the north east. But a red card for Abou Diaby saw Newcastle battle back for 4-3. Tiote then became a club hero with a brilliant long-range strike in the 86th minute to seal a point for the hosts. And fans reacted with delight when they saw son Rafael wearing his dad’s shirt on Wednesday night. Newcastle first tweeted: "We are honoured to have Cheick Tiote's son, Rafael, as one of our mascots for tonight's game.
![[Cheik Tiote of Newcastle United dribbling a soccer ball.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/b335bc12-8196-4534-be36-1f518cf62214.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
