January 23 – In emotional scenes, some 20,000 fans, including families of the victims, turned out last Saturday as Brazil’s Chapecoense played their first match since most of their players were killed in that tragic air crash in Colombia in late November.
Seventy-one people, including 19 players and staff, died in the disaster as the plane approached Medellin for the final of the Copa Sudamericana.
Subsequently the club recruited 22 new players, most on loan, and tears flowed when the team returned to action, hosting Brazilian league champions Palmeiras in a friendly that ended 2-2. Three players who survived the crash received the Copa Sudamericana trophy before the game while 241 journalists from around the world attended.
The Arena Conda stadium was adorned with thousands of tributes, including one banner that read, ‘Eternal Champions, kit man to the president’, a reference to the many players and backroom staff who died.
Survivors and relatives took centre stage before kickoff in a tearful ceremony while poignantly on 71 minutes the match was briefly halted as players and supporters stood and clapped in honour of the victims.
Chapecoense were automatically awarded the Copa Sudamericana trophy following the tragedy, a move backed by Atletico Nacional, who were scheduled to face them in the final.
Half of Saturday’s match proceeds will go to the families of those killed, while the rest will be used to rebuild the club.
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