Atletico Nacional requests cup goes to Chapecoense after plane tragedy
Atletico Nacional has asked that the Copa Sudamericana title be awarded to Chapecoense after the southern Brazilian club was involved in a devastating plane crash in Colombia en route to the first leg of the final.
The current death toll from Monday night's tragedy is at 71 - from a chartered aircraft carrying 77 people - with footballers Alan Ruschel, Jackson Follman and Zampier Neto among the six survivors.
Related: Plane carrying a Brazilian soccer club crashes in Colombia; 71 dead
Medellin-based Atletico Nacional was set to host the first match of the two-legged affair on Wednesday, and its staff joined in a moment of silence before the club requested the Copa Sudamericana be awarded to the reeling Brazilian city of Chapeco.
Um minuto de silêncio para estas pessoas com que compartilhamos um sonho, uma dor e solidariedade. #EstamosConChapecoense pic.twitter.com/b4C95ferpS
— Atlético Nacional (@nacionaloficial) November 29, 2016
Dubbed the "Brazilian Leicester City" by team coach Caio Junior due to achievements confounding its underdog status, Chapecoense had only missed out on the Serie A title to Palmeiras on Sunday. The club rose to Brazil's top flight in 2014, and its modest returns until recent years meant that the beginning of its quest for Copa Sudamericana silverware would not only have been the highlight of its season, but perhaps the highlight of the club's 43-year history.
Related: Brazil declares 3 days of mourning following Chapecoense disaster
The showing of solidarity and support from Atletico Nacional, the reigning Copa Libertadores champion, is backed up by Chapecoense's fellow Serie A clubs, which have asked the league's governing body to make the team exempt from relegation over the next three seasons. The country's leading outfits have also stated they intend to loan players free of charge to help Chapecoense get back on its feet.
Related: Brazilian clubs request relegation immunity for Chapecoense, offer to loan players
Atletico Nacional stated that while silverware seems rather trivial at such a moment, as far as it's concerned, the winners of this year's Copa Sudamericana trophy are the fallen players of their "brothers" from Brazil.