The world of sport has joined together in mourning after news of the tragic plane crash involving players from Brazilian club Chapecoense. Seventy-six people have been confirmed dead.
Brazil’s Olympic gold-winning captain and Barcelona star Neymar and Spanish club Atletico Madrid, which counts former player Cleber Santana as one of the passengers, sent their condolences.
The club has marked the tragedy by changing its crest from the traditional green colors to black.
“We are shocked by the plane crash which carried the Chapecoense team and our former player Cleber Santana,” Atleti tweeted.
Chapecoense had captured the imagination of football fans across Brazil with its meteoric rise from the fourth division to Brazil’s Serie A.
From a city of just over 200,000 inhabitants, the team was on its way to play the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana, South America’s second biggest club competition, and a shot at the club’s first ever major trophy.
Rival clubs from the Brazilian league sent messages of support, including giant Corinthians.
“Corinthians offers strength to all friends of Chapecoense at this difficult time,” it said.
Spain’s World Cup-winning captain Iker Casillas said: “My condolences for the plane crash carrying Chapecoense. A difficult moment for football. Lots of encouragement and strength!”