Football world mourns loss of Brazilian players
Very sad to read #RIP #Chapecoense Remember we are never safe and anything can happen, so make sure to tell your loved ones that you care.
The football world was in mourning on Tuesday as clubs, players and fans from around the globe sent tributes and support to Brazilian side Chapecoense following a deadly air crash in Colombia that several of their players.
Pele and Diego Maradona led numerous sporting tributes. “Brazilian football is in mourning. It is such a tragic loss,” Pele, 76, wrote on Twitter. “My sincere condolences to the families of the deceased. Rest in peace.”
One of the first messages came from their rivals in Wednesday’s now postponed final, Atletico Nacional of Medellin.
“Nacional deeply laments and stands in solidarity with @Chapecoensereal in the accident and we await information from authorities,” the home town club tweeted soon after the disaster was reported.
FIFA President Infantino said on Twitter: “At this difficult time our thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends.”
Rivals of both clubs tweeted their support, with Flamengo and Santos in Brazil, and Club Junior and Millionarios in Colombia among those sending their condo- lences, many of them accompanied by the hashtag #Forcachape, or Strength Chapecoense.
The crash struck a chord with clubs elsewhere, with Arsenal saying: “Thinking of you, @Cha pecoensereal” and Barcelona tweeting: “All our support and solidarity is with victims and families affected by @Chapecoen sereal tragedy in Colombia.”
Real Madrid players observed a minute’s silence before training on Tuesday morning.
Neymar simply tweeted the club badge and Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas said “Good luck and stay strong!”. Ex-germany cap tain Michael Ballack tweeted “Very sad to read #RIP #Chape coense Remember we are never safe and anything can happen, so make sure to tell your loved ones that you care.”