The Brazilian team Chapecoense have officially been awarded the 2016 Copa Sudamericana title after they lost nearly their entire team in a plane crash.
The club were travelling from Brazil to Colombia to meet Atletico Nacional in the final of South America’s second most prestigious continental club competition when their plane crashed in the mountains of Colombia.
The tragedy shocked the world of football and has led to numerous efforts to cushion the blow for the club. Former internationals have offered to play for them for free and measures have been taken by the Brazilian league to protect the club from relegation in the next three years.
Their final opponents, Atletico, called for the trophy to be awarded to Chapeconse following the crash, and the club has now been awarded the trophy. They also get the associated $2m prize for competition winners.
For their opponents, who called on the trophy to be awarded to Chapecoense, they were awarded the Fair Play award.
71 people died in the plane crash, with 19 first team players of the Brazilian club on board. Six people survived, of which three were Chapecoense players.