Brazil's Chapecoense extends contract of air crash survivor

Posted February 28, 2018 6:00 am

The Associated Press

SAO PAULO (AP) - Brazil's Chapecoense has extended the contract of defender Alan Ruschel, who has recently returned to action after the air crash that killed 19 of his teammates.

Ruschel's new contract is valid until the end of 2020, club director Rui Costa said on Wednesday.

Costa said "Ruschel is the living proof of Chape's reconstruction. We want him here for many years."

The crash on Nov. 28, 2016, in Colombia killed 71 people. Ruschel, defender Neto, goalkeeper Jackson Follmann and journalist Rafael Henzel survived.

Despite fears of relegation in the Brazilian league, Chapecoense finished eighth to secure a spot in the prestigious Copa Libertadores.

Ruschel played four games last year and said he is hoping for more regular playing time this season.

Article Comments

Article Categories
Content Providers MLS Pro Sports Soccer Sports Sports Leagues Sports Types

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.