Members of the Brazilian Army carry the coffins of Chapecoense soccer team members and other Brazilians, who died in a plane crash in Colombia, during a funeral ceremony at the Arena Conda stadium, in Chapeco, Brazil, Dec 3, 2016.[Photo/IC]

Chapecoense, who were struggling in Brazil's fourth division seven years ago, were aiming to win their first continental title. The winner of the two-match Copa Sudamericana final was to earn a berth in next year's Copa Libertadores, South America's equivalent of Europe's Champions League.

Atletico Nacional have requested that Chapecoense be awarded the title. Meanwhile top Brazilian teams have offered to loan players to Chapecoense for free next year and asked that the shattered club be exempt from relegation to Serie B for three years.