Chapecoense: Argentinian clubs join Brazilian counterparts in offering to loan players to club for free following tragic plane crash
South American rivals unite to help rebuild the stricken Copa Sudamerica finalists
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TWO of South America's biggest rivals have united in support of Chapecoense.
The Brazilian side saw most of their players killed in a tragic plane crash, and clubs across the country were quick to offer their players on loan for free.
And now Argentinian football has followed suit.
A statement from the Argentine FA said: "Argentine clubs, through the AFA, make available the transfer of players to support the reconstruction of the Chapecoense squad.
"The Argentine Football Association, in conjunction with the institutions that make it up, has extended its hand to Chapecoense and all the community of Chapeco, who face an irreparable tragedy and deserve the support of its brotherly federations. For this reason, our clubs will make available the transfer of players to support the reconstruction of a squad which will be honoured by all.
"We embrace our friends from the Brazilian Football Confederation and all the country which has not yet recovered from this pain, and as a tribute, Argentine football offers this solidarity contribution as a show of support.
"Fuerza Chapecoense!"
The tragedy has hit Argentina, as well as Brazil, hard with Chapecoense heroically beating one of their biggest clubs, San Lorenzo, to beat the final.
And Chapecoense's Argentine striker Alejandro Martenuccio only avoided becoming one of the victims of the crash because he was ruled of the match against Atletico Nacional through injury.
The offer from Brazil's southern neighbours follows that of Paraguayan club Libertad, who have said they are willing to send their entire squad to Brazil to play for Chapecoense.
Libertad were beaten by the fallen side in last year's Copa Sudamericana.
