Brazil vs. Colombia Friendly Scheduled to Raise Funds for Chapecoense

The efforts to aid Brazilian club Chapecoense continue, with the nation's football association announcing an international friendly between Colombia and Brazil to raise money for the squad.

Per the Daily Mirror's James Whaling, the match will take place on January 25 at the Estadio Nilton Santos, a venue for the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The Brazilian team will feature players who ply their trade in Brazil, so the likes of David Luiz and Neymar won't be participating.

Brazilian national team coordinator Edu Gaspar explained why top stars won't be playing, per Whaling: "Because it is not a date for FIFA internationals, we will work with the players of Brazilian teams so as not to embarrass a club or player that has to deny the call because of a championship being in progress."

YASUYOSHI CHIBA/Getty Images

Last month, 71 people were killed when Chapecoense’s plane crashed on the way to the Copa Sudamericana final.

As the Press Association (via the Guardian) reported, Copa Sudamericana opponents Atletico Nacional asked the South American Football Confederation to award Chapecoense the title, one of many incredible gestures in the wake of the tragedy.

Tributes from fans and clubs poured in from all over the world, and they've continued ever since. As Squawka News shared, fans of Club America were at it again during the Club World Cup:

Per CNN's Eoghan Macguire, Chapecoense will take part in the Santa Caterina state championship, with their first match scheduled for January 29. Vagner Mancini has replaced Caio Junior as manager, as the latter died in the plane crash.

According to the report, Barcelona have also invited the club to play a friendly at the Camp Nou, while the team's main rivals have asked the football association to exempt Chapecoense from relegation for the next three years, giving the side the time to rebuild.