Fitting Tribute

Chapecoense: Champions League and Europa League matches to hold a minute’s silence in memory of fallen Brazilian side

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said: "European football is united in expressing its deepest sympathy to Chapecoense and the families of all the victims."

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UEFA have announced that all Champions League and the Europa League matches will hold a minute's silence next week in memory of Chapecoense.

All but three members of the Brazilian club's squad were killed two days ago in a tragic plane crash on the way to the biggest match in their history.

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75 of the 81 passengers aboard the flight from Santa Cruz in Bolivia were killedCredit: Reuters

Chapecoense were supposed to take on Colombian side Atletico Nacional in Medellin in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final.


Keep up to date with ALL the latest news on the Colombia plane crash 


However their plane crashed 30 miles away from Medellin airport after running out of fuel.

A minute's silence was held in this week's EFL Cup and Copa del Rey matches in an emotional tribute to the fallen heroes.

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Arsenal's Brazilian centre-back Gabriel Paulista broke into tears while holding a Chapecoense scarf in the minute's silence at the Emirates before the Gunners' game against Southampton.

Families of the players have arrived in Colombia to collect the bodiesCredit: AP:Associated Press
Real Madrid held a minute's silence in honour of ChapecoenseCredit: AP:Associated Press
Arsenal's Gabriel Paulista (centre) broke into tears during the minute's silence at the EmiratesCredit: Reuters
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UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has ordered all clubs to hold a minute's silence in next week's Champions League and Europa LeagueCredit: AP:Associated Press

 

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement: "European football is united in expressing its deepest sympathy to Chapecoense, the Brazilian football confederation (CBF), CONMEBOL (the South American confederation) and the families of all the victims following this week's air disaster.

"This tragedy has shaken the world of football, and we would like to send our support to all of those affected by it."

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Incredible tributes were held last night in a vigil at Chapecoense's Arena Conda and at the Atanasio Girardot Sports Complex in Medellin, where the first leg of the final was supposed to take place.

Atletico Nacional fans filled their stadium in Medellin in tributeCredit: Getty Images
Candles were lit outside the stadium in ColombiaCredit: EPA
Flares were set off at Chapecoense's stadium in a tribute to the fallen playersCredit: Getty Images
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Fans of the club's opponents packed the inside and outside of the Colombian stadium paying tribute to Chapecoense by singing the Brazilian club's songs.

Atletico Nacional have already declared their intention to forfeit the final and award the trophy to Chapecoense.

Clubs in Brazil and Argentina have also offered their players on loan for free to the club, who come from the small city of Chapeco, near the border between the two countries.

And Chapecoense's league rivals have asked the CBF to exempt them from relegation for three years.

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CBF president Marco Polo del Nero had controversially asked the club to play their youth team in the final league game at home to Atletico Mineiro.

However their opponents have said they will forfeit the match if asked to follow through with the request.

Atletico Mineiro president Daniel Nepomuceno insisted: “Atletico will not play that last game. We respect the pain. It’s not the moment to ask this of the players.”

Jose Mourinho said it was difficult to focus on Man United's EFL Cup match against West Ham after the tragedyCredit: PA:Press Association
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PSG's Edinson Cavani was unbelievably booked for paying tribute to the Chapecoense playersCredit: Reuters

In last night's press conference after Man United's 4-1 EFL Cup win over West Ham, Jose Mourinho paid his own tribute to Chapecoense's manager, who spent much of his playing career in Portugal.

A visibly shaken Mourinho said: “I cannot forget in spite of the result and performance the tragedy with colleagues, with a coach called Caio Junior that played in Portugal for many many years.

“It’s somebody we’re going to miss in Portugal because we knew him so well and he left so many friends in our country.”

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And Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani was shockingly booked when he took of his shirt to reveal a message of support for Chapecoense after scoring a penalty for PSG.

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