February 14 – Uruguayan club Nacional have been fined $80,000 and their fans banned for three away games for taunting Brazilian rivals Chapecoense about the plane crash which killed 71 people including 19 Chapecoense players and staff in November 2016.
During the teams’ recent Copa Libertadores match, some fans of Nacional made gestures referring to the crash.
In a statement later, Nacional apologised, adding the incident was “horrendous” and brought a “deep sense of shame”.
Nacional said it would support an investigation by Conmebol and hoped “those responsible receive the most severe penalties. Unfortunately, many sick minds channel their irrationality to sporting scenarios”, the statement read.
Conmebol have now taken decisive action saying that if a similar “infraction to the sporting discipline is reiterated, it will be considered an aggravating situation.”
Chapecoense had asked Conmebol to expel Nacional from the competition, but that request was not granted.
Chapecoense had been due to play in the final of the Copa Sudamericana against Colombian opponents Atletico Nacional when their plane crashed on its approach to Medellin. Atletico asked for Chapecoense to be handed the trophy, which was awarded to three surviving players when the team played their first game following the tragedy.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1714128360labto1714128360ofdlr1714128360owedi1714128360sni@w1714128360ahsra1714128360w.wer1714128360dna1714128360