FIFA have recognised Colombian club Atletico Nacional’s compassionate response to the Chapecoense air disaster by handing them their Fair Play Ward.
Nacional were due to face the Brazilian side in the Copa Sudamericana final in November before the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of the majority of Chape’s players and staff.
Atletico asked CONMEBOL to award the trophy to Chape as the sporting world mourned, and that gesture was honoured at Fifa’s ‘The Best’ ceremony in Zurich last night.
The South American governing body later confirmed that it had awarded the trophy to Chapecoense “as a posthumous homage to the victims of the fatal crash that leaves our sport in mourning.”
Chapecoense, as the winner of the trophy, have now qualified automatically for next season’s Copa Libertadores, the continent’s version of the Champions League.
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Defending Copa Libertadores champions Nacional will play Chape in a two-legged tie later this year.
A total of 81 passengers were on board Flight AMI2933 as the club travelled to take part in its first-ever Copa Sudamericana final when it crashed, with more than 70 of those losing their life.
The team were travelling from Bolivia to Medellin International Airport for the first-leg of the clash.
Chape will make an emotional return to the pitch later this month in a friendly against defending league champions Palmeiras.
The match takes place on January 21 in Chapecoense’s 22,600-capacity Arena Conda in Chapeco, a city around 800 miles south of Rio.
Manager Vagner Mancini is still recruiting players as he attempts to replace the 19 that died on the Colombian hillside ahead of their first official match since the devastation on January 26 against local rivals Joinville.
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