Chapecoense call for Nacional Copa Libertadores ban

Chapecoense have asked South American football governing body CONMEBOL to ban Uruguay's Nacional from this year's Copa Libertadores after some of their fans mocked the 2016 plane crash that devastated the Brazilian football club.

Several Nacional supporters made gestures referring to the tragedy during Nacional's 1-0 victory at Chapecoense's Conda Arena in a Copa Libertadores qualifier on Wednesday, reports Xinhua news agency.

In a statement, Chapecoense said the request was based on competition rules that hold clubs responsible for fans who "attack human dignity."

It asked CONMBEOL, which is investigating the alleged incidents, to make a ruling ahead of next Wednesday's second leg in Montevideo.

Nacional have apologised for the fan behaviour and said two club members were now banned from stadiums.

Seventy-one people died -- including 19 Chapecoense players and all of the club's coaching staff -- when their LaMia chartered flight ran out of fuel and slammed into a mountain near Medellin in November 2016. There were six survivors.

The accident occurred just days before Chapecoense and Colombia's Atletico Nacional were due to play in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final in Medellin.

Chapecoense were later named winners of South America's second most important tournament at the request of Atletico Nacional.

--IANS

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