Chapecoense named Copa Sudamericana champs

Brazilian football team wins 2016 tournament after plane crash in Colombian killed 16 players

BOGOTA (AA) – The Brazilian football team Chapecoense was named winner of the 2016 Copa Sudamericana tournament Monday, after a plane crash in Colombia killed most of its players last week.

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), the sport’s continental governing body, announced the decision in a written statement.

Players of the Brazilian top division Serie A club were on their way to Colombia to play the first leg of the tournament’s finals against Atletico Nacional of Colombia, when the commercial airplane they were traveling in crashed just miles from the airport.

Additionally, the CONMEBOL said Atletico Nacional was honored with the league’s Fair Play Award for the team’s humane attitude.

After the crash Atletico Nacional requested CONMEBOL declare Chapecoense the tournament’s champions.

The Colombian club will receive a $1 million prize, CONMEBOL said.

The crash near the Colombian city of Medellin took the lives of 71 victims, including 16 Chapecoense players.

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