Popular soccer video game “FIFA 17? is giving fans a chance to mourn the members of the Chapecoense soccer team who died in a plane crash Monday by allowing players to wear a Chape uniform in the game.
“Wear this kit and crest in support of the friends, family and fans of Chapecoense,” the free download instructed players when it appeared Tuesday evening.
Developers and others at EA Sports began brainstorming what they could do to honor the victims on Tuesday morning.
“Like everyone, we were heartbroken,” senior publicist Brad Hilderbrand said in a phone interview Wednesday, noting that as soon as the news broke of the tragedy he began getting emails from fans.
“It was a combination between us talking about what we can do and fans writing in,” he said of what spawned the idea. “It came together really nicely.”
And quickly.
“Given the situation, we wanted to be very timely,” he added.
There is no way to measure how many “FIFA 17? fans have opted to use the kits and badge, but EA Sports’ effort was largely met with positive responses from fans on social media.
“Great thing to do,” said Reddit user Radlerague, “Hats off.”
“Well done EA,” another user said.
A full investigation into what caused the plane crash is ongoing, but initial reports suggest electrical failure and lack of fuel led the plane to plummet into a hillside just miles away from an airport in Medellin, Colombia. The crash killed 71 of the 76 people aboard. Among the survivors are three Chapecoense players, two crew members and a journalist.
The team, which ranks ninth in Brazil’s top-flight league, was on its way to play in the finals of the Copa Sudamericana, one of the continent’s biggest tournaments, when the plane went down. The tournament, which many believed would seal the tiny club’s rise from relegation to top-tier contender, has been suspended, and Chapecoense’s would-be opponents Atletico Nacional of Colombia have asked the title to be handed to Chapecoense as a show of respect.
