Chapecoense awarded Copa Sudamericana trophy

Chapecoense have been awarded the Copa Sudamericana by South American football confederation CONMEBOL.

The Brazilian club were involved in a plane crash last week as they were making their way to Colombia to take on Atletico Nacional in the final of the competition.

A total of 71 people, including 19 players and staff, lost their lives in the tragic accident, which threw the world of football into mourning.

Following a request from Nacional, the South American governing body announced on Monday: "CONMEBOL awards the title for the 2016 Copa Sudamericana championship to Chapecoense."

The Chapeco-based club will therefore qualify automatically for next season's Copa Libertadores, the continent's top tournament.

Chapecoense will be given the $2m (£1.57m) in prize money while Medellin-based Nacional will receive $1m (£787,000), as well as a special CONMEBOL Centennial Fair Play Award.