Incredible!!! Chapecoense confirmed as Copa Sudamericana champions

The Brazilian club have been awarded the title following last
week's horrific plane crash, while Atletico Nacional were
honoured with a Fair Play award
Chapecoense have been named as the winners of the Copa
Sudamericana by South American football's governing body
CONMEBOL.

Interim club president Ivan Tozzo confirmed at the weekend
that the decision had been made following a formal request
from Atletico Nacional, who had been due to face
Chapecoense in the final of the competition.
What really happened to Chapecoense's tragic flight?
The plane carrying the Chapecoense squad and a number of
journalists for the first leg of the final crashed en route to
Medellin two days before the match was due to take place,
killing 71 people on board.
Atletico have been rewarded for their gesture with a fair play
prize.
"CONMEBOL's Council has decided to declare Chapecoense
as the champions of the 2016 edition of the Copa
Sudamericana, as well as grant Atletico Nacional the
extraordinary recognition of the 'CONMEBOL Centenary Fair
Play' prize," a statement released by the organisation read.
Chapecoense are to receive "all the sporting and economic
prerogatives that this entails", CONMEBOL confirmed.



The decision to award Atletico a prize, which includes a
cash sum of $1million, came as a result of their willingness
to "promote South American football in a spirit of peace,
understanding and fair play in the pursuit of sporting values
always having prevalence over commercial interests", it
added.
Football matches across the world have been preceded by
moments of silence in recognition of those who lost their
lives in the tragedy.



A tribute was held at the club's Arena Conda over the
weekend, attended by CONMEBOL chief Alejandro
Dominguez, Brazil coach Tite, the country's president Michel
Temer and head of FIFA Gianni Infantino, along with
hundreds of supporters.
Last week, Brasileirao clubs issued a joint statement in
which they requested that Chapecoense be made exempt
from relegation for the next three seasons, while they
offered to loan players to the club for free.
Former Barcelona and Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen has
offered to play for the club if needed, while Brazil great
Ronaldinho and ex-Argentina midfielder Juan Roman
Riquelme have also been linked.

Source : Goal