Watch fans pay an electric tribute to Chapecoense plane crash victims
Chapecoense were supposed to be squaring off against Atletico Nacional in the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana finals Wednesday. Following the plane crash that claimed the lives of 71 people, including 19 of Chapecoense's players, those matches were immediately suspended and then canceled. But the stadium where the match was set to take place was by no means empty Wednesday night.
On the contrary, fans poured out for an epic tribute in memory of those that lost their lives in the tragic plane crash. Much like the vigils that took place the day the first leg of the tie was scheduled, fans and teams again held service during what was supposed to be the second leg Wednesday night. Gates at the Estádio Couto Pereira opened at 7 p.m. with a religious service starting at 8:30 p.m., according to Chapecoense. The tribute was scheduled to end at 9:45 p.m., with a symbolic whistle to signal the start of the canceled match.
The symbolic whistle kicked off a mass of chants in support of Chapecoense, and those in attendance truly made their passion felt. GloboEsporte reporter Monique Silva uploaded a number of videos from inside the stadium:
The tribute didn't stop there. Atletico Nacional, Chape's scheduled opponents, requested that the Brazilian team be made champions and CONMEBOL made it official.
Even without matches bring played, fans still showed out.
MORE FROM FOX SOCCER:
A hora mais doída: o apito simbólico que simulou o que seria o pontapé de Chapecoense x Atlético Nacional, em seguida de 1 min de silêncio. pic.twitter.com/kWo5aUc3ab
— Monique Silva (@Monique_Silva) December 8, 2016
"Olê olê olê olê, Chape, Chape"! ? uma noite inesquecível no Couto Pereira em homenagem à @ChapecoenseReal !!! pic.twitter.com/le2pwjj3KS
— Monique Silva (@Monique_Silva) December 8, 2016
