Barcelona honors Chapecoense victims

CAIRO – 29 June 2017: Barcelona announced that this year’s edition of the Juan Gamper trophy will be held on August 7. Barcelona will meet Brazilian side Chapecoense in memory of the 71 victims of the plane accident.

Juan Gamper trophy is an annual pre-season match played at Barcelona stadium Camp Nou; Barcelona plays a friendly match and introduces the team to the fans.

Barcelona will host Chapecoense after the tragic accident happened last November to the club plane travelling to Colombia to play the 2016 Copa Sudamericana final against Colombian team Atletico Nacional. Barcelona seeks to help the Brazilian club rebuild its team again after the accident.

The plane crash caused 71 victims, 22 players, 23 coaching staff, 2 guests and 21 journalists; only six people survived.

Football world showed much sympathy and support to the Brazilian Club, Chapecoense named the 2016 Copa Sudamericana champions after Atletico Nacional asked the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) to honor Chapecoense with the title.