Brazil, Colombia to play charity friendly for Chapecoense victim's families

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil will play Colombia in a friendly match at the end of January to help victims of the air crash that killed most of the players, staff and directors of soccer club Chapecoense last week.

Spokesman Douglas Lunardi also said on Monday that the Brazilian football federation will donate about $ 1.5 million to Chapecoense.

Nineteen of Chapecoense's players were killed in the crash just outside Medellin, Colombia, as the Brazilian team headed to the first of two matches against Colombian club Atletico Nacional to determine the champion of the Copa Sudamericana—Latin America's No. 2 club tournament.

Earlier, South America's football confederation Conmebol officially gave the title of the 2016 edition to Chapecoense, as Atletico Nacional requested.

Lunardi said the venue will be decided by Chapecoense directors and that all the ticket office revenues will go to the families of the victims. The most obvious choices, he said, are the historic Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro and Chapecoense's Arena Conda.

GALLERY: The world's tributes to Chapecoense

The world's tributes to Chapecoense

Atletico Nacional, the club Chapecoense was flying to play in the Copa Sudamericana final, holds a vigil in a packed stadium in Colombia to honor the victims of the plane crash.

Atletico Nacional honors Chapecoense with T-shirts prior to a league match in Colombia.

Solemn Arsenal players hold up a Força Chape banner prior to a League Cup match.

Atalanta fans pass a Chapecoense tifo around the stadium.

Fans at Club America's Liga MX playoff game against Necaxa at Estadio Azteca turn their cellphones into flashlights in honor of the Chapecoense victims.

Boca Juniors players hold up a banner that, translated, reads "We are all Chapecoense."

PSG forward Edinson Cavani reveals a Chapecoense T-shirt under his uniform after scoring a goal against Angers in Ligue 1.

Air Force members carry a casket carrying one of the victims of the Chapecoense air crash during a memorial service at the club's stadium in Chapeco, Brazil.

Chapecoense holds a memorial service at Arena Conda on a rainy day to commemorate the lives lost in the plane crash.

Manchester City and Chelsea players observe a minute's silence for the victims of the Chapecoense plane crash.

Rivals united: Barcelona and Real Madrid players stand together to honor the Chapecoense crash victims prior to El Clasico at Camp Nou.

Dortmund players stand together in silence to honor Chapecoense.

Chelsea's Brazilian players David Luiz and Willian hold up armbands with Força Chape written on them to honor the crash victims.

Everton and Manchester United players observe a moment of silence to honor Chapecoense.

Fans of Japanese club Cerezo Osaka remember Everton Kempes dos Santos Goncalves, a Chapecoense crash victim who played there in 2012.

Fiorentina and Palermo players stand silently to commemorate the Chapecoense crash victims.

Juventus players stand under a spotlight during a moment of observance for the Chapecoense victims.

Manchester City players warm up for their match vs. Chelsea with T-shirts dedicated to Chapecoense.

Fans at Tigres UANL's Liga MX playoff match vs. Leon display a giant black ribbon tifo in honor of the Chapecoense crash victims.

Argentina power River Plate wears a special jersey with a Chapecoense symbol across the chest.

Brazilian Bruno Cesar flashes a tribute to Chapecoense after scoring for Sporting Lisbon in Portugal's top flight.

AC Milan's Ignazio Abate wears a special armband and jersey to commemorate Chapecoense.

Toronto FC fans show their support for Chapecoense during the second leg of the MLS Eastern Conference final vs. Montreal.

"The decision will be between making that tribute at home or get a bigger revenue for the victims," Lunardi told The Associated Press. "We will let them take their time to make that decision."

Maracana has a capacity of 78,000 and has hosted two World Cup finals as well as the opening ceremony of the last Olympic Games in August.

Arena Conda is a 22,000-seater. It hosted a memorial service on Saturday for 50 of the 71 victims.

Chapeco, the city of the club impacted by the tragedy, has 200,000 residents and sits about 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) south of Rio.

In a press conference in Chapeco, Chapecoense's president Ivan Tozzo said the club will decide the venue for the match in the next few days. He also said that the donation from the confederation will help cover the expenses for the memorial services.