Brazil footballers in Colombia plane crash: South American matches suspended

The South American Cup final was suspended after an airliner carrying a Brazilian team that was to have competed in it crashed in Colombia, Conmebol announced.

The South American Cup final was suspended after an airliner carrying a Brazilian team that was to have competed in it crashed in Colombia, the region’s football confederation Conmebol announced Tuesday.

Chapecoense, from the small city of Chapeco, joined Brazil’s first division in 2014 for the first time since the 1970s. (Getty Images)

The LAMIA airlines plane was carrying 81 people, including members of the Chapecoense Real team of Brazil, which was to have played Colombia’s Atletico Nacional in Wednesday’s first final. Six people were reported to have survived.

“All activities of the confederation are suspended until further notice,” Conmebol said.

The authorities recovered 25 bodies while five survivors have been rescued alive, according to officials though the airport says the rescue been halted due to heavy rain.