|
RIO DE JANEIRO, June 14-- The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has rejected a request by Chapecoense to participate in a friendly against Benfica next month. The Portuguese champions had invited the tragedy-hit club from southern Brazil to compete for the annual Eusebio Cup in Lisbon on July 22. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Chapecoense said it was forced to withdraw from the fixture due to Brazilian Serie A commitments. Chapecoense are due to play Santos away on July 19 before a home clash against Vitoria four days later. Seventy-one people died, including 19 Chapecoense players and all of the club's coaching staff, when the chartered plane in which they were travelling crashed into a hillside in Colombia last November. The Brazilian side are still awaiting approval from the CBF to take part in friendlies against Roma and Barcelona. | 
