Brazilian team, Chapecoense have been crowned champions of the 2016 Copa Sudamericana.
The Brazilian team who were scheduled play the final against Colombian side Atletico Nacional on Wednesday died in an air crash in Medellin, Colombia.
In a statement issued on Monday by the South American Football Confederation, Chapecoense were awarded champions of the competition while Nacional were given the fair play award.
The statement read, The South American Football Confederation confirms that the Council of CONMEBOL, as permanent authority to enforce the statutes of the institution, has decided to declare the Associação Chapecoense de Futebol Champion the 2016 edition of the Copa Sudamericana and give the National Athletic Club the special recognition award “Conmebol Centennial Fair Play”. The decision is based on the following considerations:
“On Wednesday November 30, the South American Football Confederation received a letter from the National Athletic Club, addressed to Mr. Alejandro Dominguez, President of CONMEBOL, inviting the CONMEBOL “to give the title of the Copa Sudamericana to Associação Chapecoense de Futebol as honorific his great loss and posthumous tribute to the victims of the fatal accident that mourns our sport laurel.”
“Following this, the Council took the decision to appoint the Associação Chapecoense de Futebol as champion of the Copa Sudamericana 2016 with all sporting and economic privileges it entails.
“For CONMEBOL, there is no greater sign of the “spirit of peace, understanding and fair play” stated objective of our institution that solidarity, consideration and respect shown by the National Athletic Club of Colombia for their brothers of Chapecoense Associação de Futebol Brazil.
“Because of the request made by the National Athletic Club who with his attitude has promoted football in South America in a spirit of peace, understanding and fair play, in finding that sporting values always prevail over commercial interests, The Council decided to give the one-time Atletico Nacional Club the “Centenario Conmebol Fair Play” consisting of the sum of USD 1,000,000 (one million dollars) prize.”
Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.
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