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EspañolBrazilian soccer club Chapecoense has received an outpouring of support from the sporting world and abroad after nearly the entire team was lost to a plane crash in Colombia overnight Monday, November 28 on its way to play in the final for the South American Cup against Atlético Nacional.
From the free loan of players to the granting of the championship cup, various groups have shown their support and sadness at the loss of the Brazilian soccer team, which finished with only four safe players who had been unable to travel due to injury, roster decisions or family obligations.
The teams in Series A of the league issued a statement laying out measures to ensure the team is reconstructed for the future.
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One of these measures was the free transfer of players to shield the team in the first division over the next three seasons.
Another show of solidarity came from the Colombian team Atlético Nacional, which requested that its intended competitor be titled the championship.
The Board of Directors of Atlético Nacional met quickly after hearing of the accident and proposed that the title be given to Chapecoense, and that the money awarded to the champion be given to the families of the victims.
“Atlético Nacional asks Conmebol that the title for the South America Cup be given to the Chapecoense Association as an honorary laurel to their great loss and as a posthumous homage to the victims of the fatal accident that our sport mourns,” a representative wrote in a statement.
“To us, and forever, Chapecoense is the 2016 champion of the South American Cup,” the statement concluded.
The Brazilian team Palmeiras asked to play in Chapecoense uniforms in its final game of the season. The game, against Vitória, will be played on December 11.
Peruvian team Alianza Lima, which suffered a similar tragedy in 1987 when a plane crashed in Lima, reached out with its own words of support.
“In these moments, we are all embraced by soccer. We send strength to our brothers at Chapecoense Real….We understand your pain.”
The Mayor of Medellín rescheduled the Christmas lighting from Tuesday, November 29 to Saturday, December 3, to make room for mourning of those lost in the crash.
Atlético Nacional commented about the accident on Twitter.
Los familiares de amigos, directivos y periodistas que se trasladaban en el avión de @ChapecoenseReal pueden comunicarse al 5406920 ext 4220 pic.twitter.com/vKSfpEHSKh
— Atlético Nacional (@nacionaloficial) November 29, 2016
Mañana 6:45 pm todos juntos al estadio vestidos de blanco y con un vela blanca en símbolo de solidaridad #FuerzaChapecoense
— Atlético Nacional (@nacionaloficial) November 29, 2016
At its renowned bar Los del Sur, fans expressed their sadness with families of victims of the flight and offered support to those who had travelled to Medellín.
Toda nuestra disposición para recibir, hospedar, transportar y acompañar a los familiares del plantel de @ChapecoenseReal que vienen a Med!
— Los Del Sur (@LDSoficial) November 29, 2016
In Colombia, rescue agencies and the national army continue with rescue efforts to find the bodies of players.
https://twitter.com/COL_EJERCITO/status/803674905212391424
Sources: El Tiempo; El Heraldo; Marca; Libero
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