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Brazilian Clubs Rally Around Chapecoense Following On From Plane Tragedy

Brazilian Clubs Rally Around Chapecoense Following On From Plane Tragedy

Several players and staff from the Chapecoense lost their lives in the plane crash,

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

A host of Brazilian clubs are uniting by offering a number of great gestures to Chapecoense, the team who were involved in the horrible tragedy on LaMia Airlines Flight 2933.

The plane crashed, with 75 confirmed deaths - among those were several members of the Chapecoense playing and coaching staff, with the team travelling to Medellin, Colombia to play Atletico Nacional in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana on Wednesday.

The games have been postponed as a result of the tragedy, while the Brazilian league has ended a game early. The Brazilian cup final has also been postponed. Moreover, Atletico have asked for Chapecoense to be given the Copa Sudamericana win following the disastrous turn of events.

And in a joint statement, Brazilian clubs such as Coritiba, Corinthians, Palmeiras, Portuguesa, Santos and São Paulo have called for Chapecoense to be able to loan players for no fee in the 2017 season as well as being exempt from relegation to Serie B for the next three seasons.

Their statement in full, roughly translated from Globo Esporte, reads:

At this time of loss and deep sadness, we presidents of Brazilian clubs that publish this note, we would like to express our most sincere condolences and solidarity to Chapecoense Football Association and its fans, and especially to the families and friends of the athletes, coaching staff and directors involved in the tragedy that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday (29).

Even aware of the irreparable damage caused by this terrible event, the teams understand that time is of unity, support and assistance to Chapecoense. In this sense, the Clubs Solidarity announced measures to Chapecoense which shall include, among others, on:

(i) Free Loan athletes for the season of 2017; and
(ii) formal request to the Brazilian Football Confederation for Chapecoense is not subjected to relegation to Serie B of the Brazilian Championship for the next three (3) seasons. If Chapecoense finish the championship among the four last, 16th place would be lowered.

It is a minimum gesture of solidarity that is at our disposal at the moment, but endowed with the sincere objective of reconstruction of this institution and the Brazilian football that was lost today.

A wonderful proposal from clubs in the Brazilian top tier after today's horrible tragedy.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Colombia, Brazilian football, Chapecoense, Brazil