Barcelona to play Chapecoense next year

Barcelona have invited Brazilian team, Chapecoense, to play in the Joan Gamper Trophy match at Camp Nou, as a mark of respect to the 71 people who died in an air crash in Colombia last month.

“Barcelona want to pay homage to the 71 people who died in the accident and their families,” the Catalan club said in a statement.

“The club will work so that the Joan Gamper Trophy 2017 provides a huge homage to them from the football world through different initiatives surrounding the game.

“With the invitation of Chapecoense to the Joan Gamper Trophy, Barcelona want to collaborate with the institutional and sporting reconstruction of the club and help them recover the competitive level they had.

“Barcelona sent a formal letter to Chapecoense’s current board of directors on Thursday.”

Chapecoense, who were on their way to play Atletico Nacional, in the final of the Copa Sudamericana, lost 19 players to the tragedy.

The South America governing body for football, CONMEBOL has since awarded the Copa Sudamericana title to Chapecoense.

#barcelona #Chapecoense