Although most of the team were not household names outside of the southern city of Chapecó, the deaths sent shockwaves around the footballing world. GloboEsporte reported a surge of votes for the 31-year-old – perhaps the side’s standout player – in its public Player of the Year poll. Thank you everyone.”The Chapecoense player Alejandro Martinuccio was also absent from the trip to Medellín because of an injury. “This is a very, very sad day for football,” the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, said in a statement. Fifa would like to extend its most heartfelt condolences to the fans of Chapecoense, the football community and media organizations concerned in Brazil.”

Source: The Guardian November 29, 2016 22:15 UTC