Fans mourn the Chapecoense players who died in Monday's plane crash

Three of Brazil's leading clubs have said they will offer players to Chapecoense, after the majority of their squad died in a plane crash.

Chapecoense players and officials died when their plane crashed on its approach to Medellin, Colombia.

They were travelling to play in the Copa Sudamericana final first leg, and opponents Atletico Nacional have asked for Chapecoense to be awarded the cup.

Flamengo, Palmeiras and Sao Paulo are the clubs to have offered help.

Sao Paulo, who have won six national titles, also said Chapecoense should be exempt from relegation to Brazilian football's second tier for the next three seasons as they attempt to rebuild the club.

Six of the 77 people aboard the plane survived the crash, which was blamed on an electrical fault.

Three of the six survivors are footballers:

Defender Alan Ruschel, who has spinal injuries

Defender Helio Zemper, who has injuries to his skull and chest

Reserve goalkeeper Jakson Follman, who has unspecified injuries

A statement by Fox Sports Latin America said that six employees from its Brazil operation died in the crash.

In the aftermath of the 1958 Munich air disaster, both Liverpool and Nottingham Forest offered to loan players to Manchester United, and players from non-league Bishop Auckland featured for the Red Devils.</s>Brazil’s top-flight football teams offered to loan players to Chapecoense for next season after the small southern club lost almost all their players in a plane crash in Colombia.

The teams also asked the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) on Tuesday to give Chapecoense a three-year exemption from relegation – the process through which teams are assigned to a lower classification if they do not perform well.

The Brazilian team were on their way to Medellín to play the Colombian side Atlético Nacional in the final of the Copa Sudamericana, South America’s equivalent of the Europa League, when the plane crashed into a hillside on Monday night.

“It is the minimum gesture of solidarity that is within our reach at this point in time but it is borne of the sincerest desire to reconstruct this institution and that part of Brazilian football that was lost today,” the statement said.

The CBF did not immediately respond to the offer. The final on Wednesday was cancelled and all games scheduled for the upcoming week in Brazil were postponed.</s>The lads from the Brazilian football team Chapecoense had everything to play for just a few hours ago.

After a victory against Argentina’s San Lorenzo, the 'underdogs' from Chapeco were looking forward to playing against the top-rated Colombian team Atletico Nacional in the final of the Copa Sudamericana - South America’s second most important club competition.

Recently they've enjoyed their best run for for 40 years, having been competed in Brazil’s top division for the first time since they were founded in 1973 - currently sitting at ninth in the table.

Yet this morning those hopes and achievements are but a distant memory after their plane crashed in Colombia - killing at least 76 people according to police.

Only hours earlier they had been caught on filming laughing and joking in the airport as they waited to board the doomed flight.

In footage which has emerged in the last few hours they can be seen with their hand luggage stood around by the check-in desks - tickets and passports in their hands - chatting to each other.

Some players are in intense conversations with, presumably, team coaches and other support staff.

Others are making small talk with others, possibly journalists who are also believed to have been on board the flight travelling with the team.

Several are wearing the team's green T-shirt with a white stripe - or the alternative reverse strip of a white T-shirt and green stripe - and sporting the club's emblem.

One teenager can be seen taking a selfie with the team in the background - it's not clear if he was a passing fan or one of the passengers travelling on board the flight.

What is known is that the jet crashed in the early hours of this morning (UK time) in heavy rain.

The plane was carrying the team to Medellin airport when it fell from the sky after reportedly suffering electrical problems.

The jet split in two when it crashed in mountains shortly at around 10pm local time (3am UK time), shortly before it was due to land.

The hero pilot is reported to have opened a fuel door to release fuel and prevent a huge explosion in the seconds after the crash.

There were 72 passengers and 9 crew on board the charter plane, which was taking the 22-man squad to their match against Atletico Nacional.

Police confirmed after 9am UK time that 76 people had died - leaving just five survivors.

Mayor of Medellin Federico Gutierrez confirmed earlier in a statement at the crash site that at least 25 people have been killed.

He said: "Right now firefighters say 25 people have died.

"This is a tragedy. we have pictures of the plane, which broke in two .

"There has been talk of more than 10 survivors, that's the important thing first is save the lives of those who are coming.

"We thank God the plane did not fall in an urban area because it could have been an even greater tragedy."

Defender Alan Ruschel and goalkeepers Danilo Padilha and Jakson Follmann are reported to be three of the survivors taken to hospital.

Ruschel - who suffered a broken hip and head injuries - was heard asking medics to look after his wedding ring as he arrived at hospital.

A video shared on Twitter claimed to show the moment the plane disappeared from view on flight radar at around 10.15pm local time.

The pilot declared an emergency around 10pm local time citing electrical failure.

The team are believed to have had to change their flight and board the plane that crashed after Brazilian aviation authorities prevented them from taking a charter flight to Medellin.

The jet came down in Cerro Gordo in the municipality of La Union, according to Mi Oriente.

Colombia has been hit by heavy storms which are hampering rescue efforts.

"The site of the accident is only accessible by land due to climatic conditions and low visibility," a statement from the airport said.

"The Colombian Air Force deployed a search and rescue helicopter which had to cancel the mission due to the adverse conditions.

"According to the authorities the police are mobilising all possible help since they are reporting six survivors."

Colombian news website Noticias Caracol tweeted what is purported to be the first pictures of the wreckage.

Chapecoense had reached the finals of the Copa Sudamericana by beating Argentina's San Lorenzo over two legs in the semi-finals, which concluded last week.

Earlier in the day, the Chapocoense football team’s official Facebook page posted a video of the players waiting to board the flight at Viru Viru International Airport in the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.

A picture of the team on board a plane has been tweeted but it is unclear whether it was taken before the doomed flight.

The team, from the city of Chapeco, were promoted to Brazil’s first division in 2014 and reached the final of South America’s second most important club competition last week after a victory against Argentina’s San Lorenzo.

2014 was the first time the club had competed in Brazil’s top division since the 1970s.</s>FATORDA

 Roughly a year ago, FC Goa were on the verge of being crowned Champions of ISL 2 –leading by an odd goal in three against Chennaiyin FC at Nehru stadium, Fatorda. Out of the blue, goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani came out of his charge to handle an aerial ball – which he should not have. What happened thereafter is already etched in the history book of FC Goa.

 In the blame game that ensued FC Goa was hurt. Today, the Goan gaur takes to the field with a limp as it prepares to face Chennaiyin FC in its final game of the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Nehru stadium, Fatorda.

 Everyone makes mistakes. What Kattimani did was human. But what happened later was an extension of the ugly face of humanness. This ugly face has hurt football in Goa and that is why FC Goa will hardly try to pull up its socks as it readies to face Chennaiyin FC.

 Ironically, the team that won the finals last year is second last and the team that stood second is last this year. A sad ballad of Indian football.

 Both teams start their final match having won just three games. FC Goa has eleven points and Chennaiyin FC 15. Who amongst the two wins is irrelevant as both will finish where they are. In the maximum, Chennaiyin FC may be able to distance itself from FC Goa by a slot.

 The matter of football pride does not arise because Goa’s pride appeared to be pricked after the team refused to participate in the final ceremony. It was played right through thereafter and if the pricking relented it was because the effect would have stream rolled into ISL.

 Football is new to ISL, not Goa.

 As team FC Goa enters the field for the last time this season, there will be many in the stands who will point fingers at Zico for this year’s statistics of three wins, two draws and eight losses. Few will be aware that the Brazilian was asked to sign in the last minute, with no opportunity to pick the players of his choice. He had to do with what was dumped on him –favouritism in the form of badly selected players.

 FC Goa managed to win one home match in comparison to the three won last season. They won one match against Chennaiyin 2-0 and lost the other 0-4 last time and have already lost their away game to Chennaiyin 0-2. An ardent FC Goa fan may wonder: Can we win 4-0 this time?

 Coach Zico has already thanked and apologised the people who attended the FC Goa matches at Fatorda so far. He may do it again today as there is nothing much between the two teams — just pride that can be prudently kept in the burner this evening.

 It is easy to forgive but difficult to forget. Despite having been tended by Zico, the Gaur appeared wounded. As the curtains are pulled on ISL 3 in Goa, it could be time to forget about forgiving and concentrate on the forgetting.

 Football can never be impaired by money. It can be hurt. But, wounds heal.</s>(CNN) Four people who were due to board the plane that crashed, killing 71 people in Colombia, have revealed how last-minute changes stopped them from getting on the flight.

The Lamia 2933 flight, carrying Brazilian football team Chapecoense, crashed late Monday near Medellin. Six of the 77 people on board survived.

Merisio, 50, had been looking forward to the game only to switch his plans late on because of work commitments.

"I want to be clear, that while I was scheduled to fly on the plane with the team, I opted not to do it due to work obligations this week," he wrote in a statement on Facebook.

Also aboard the flight were more than 20 journalists who were covering the soccer team's Cinderella story.

Also aboard the flight were more than 20 journalists who were covering the soccer team's Cinderella story.

The plane declared an emergency between the municipalities of La Ceja and La Union, according to Colombian aviation officials. The crash occurred in an area called Cerro El Gordo near Medellin, officials said.

The plane declared an emergency between the municipalities of La Ceja and La Union, according to Colombian aviation officials. The crash occurred in an area called Cerro El Gordo near Medellin, officials said.

Rescue workers recover bodies on November 29. Authorities are investigating what caused the crash.

Rescue workers recover bodies on November 29. Authorities are investigating what caused the crash.

The Avro RJ85 was traveling from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, to Medellin. The soccer club, which has risen the ranks in Brazilian soccer and now has a devoted national fan base, was set to play in the first leg of the South American Cup finals on Wednesday.

The Avro RJ85 was traveling from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, to Medellin. The soccer club, which has risen the ranks in Brazilian soccer and now has a devoted national fan base, was set to play in the first leg of the South American Cup finals on Wednesday.

A charter airplane with 77 people on board, including players from the Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense, crashed near Rionegro, Colombia, outside Medellin, on Monday, November 28. At least 71 people were killed, officials said. Six survived.

Later, after the severity of the crash became evident, he paid tribute to those who lost their lives.

Just three players, Jackson Ragnar Follmann, Alan Ruschel and Helio Hermito Zampier Neto, survived the crash. Three others, two crew members and a reporter also survived.

Doctors in Medellin amputated Follmann's right leg and he is currently in the hospital's intensive care unit, according to Juan David Arteaga, the Undersecretary of Social Protection for the state of Antioquia.

Arteaga says that Neto is under observation following multiple surgeries and Alan Ruschel is in the ICU.

Another of those who was originally supposed to be on the plane was journalist Ivan Carlos Agnoletto -- he said he gave up his seat for colleague Gelson Galliotto, who had always dreamed of covering such a huge game.

"I was scheduled to cover the game, but my colleague had a huge dream to cover an international final.

"When I told Gelson Galiotto the news that he could go in my place, he could not believe it: 'Really? I'm really going?' It was his dream."

Agnoletto said he did not hear about the crash until his wife began to receive a barrage of calls with people offering their condolences.

"It was as if I was dead," he added. "I went to the TV and saw the plane had crashed."

The mayor of Chapeco, Luciano Buligon, and the president of the club's board, Plinio David de Nes Filho, were also on the passenger list but missed the flight to attend a meeting in Sao Paulo.

"It is the biggest tragedy Chapeco could go through. We lived a moment of ecstasy with our football club."
Three of Brazil's leading football clubs – Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras and São Paulo FC – offer players to Associação Chapecoense de Futebol after the team loses the majority of its squad in the LaMia Airlines Flight 2933 crash.