The football world has been left in a state of shock after 75 people were killed in a plane crash that included the majority of the Brazilian football team Chapecoense after their aircraft came down in the mountainous region near Medellin in Colombia.

Six of the 81 aboard the flight survived the crash and have been taken to hospital with injuries. Aeronautica Civil issued a statement to confirm that the plane was carrying “22 footballers, 28 companions and technical staff, 22 journalists and nine crew members”.

Local reports claim the five survivors are defender Alan Ruschel, goalkeeper Jackson Follmann, journalist Rafael Hensel and crew members Ximena Suarez and Erwin Tumiri.

Clubs across the world have sent messages of condolence and tributes to the Brazilian top flight club, while Fifa has also issued a statement with president Gianni Infantino labelling it a “very, very sad day for football”.

Infantino’s statement read: "We are so sorry to hear about the airplane crash in Colombia, it is shocking and tragic news. At this difficult time our thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends."

Both the Real Madrid and Barcelona squads help a minute’s silence in tribute to the dead during training this morning ahead of their El Clasico derby this weekend.

Hundreds of thousands of Twitter messages were send to the club’s @ChapecoenseReal Twitter account, and a video released by the club last week showing the team celebrating their Copa Sudamericana semi-final victory over San Lorenzo last Wednesday has gone viral in tribute of the dead.

Medellin Plane Crash Show all 17 1 /17 Medellin Plane Crash Medellin Plane Crash Logo of Brazilian football team Chapecoense at the site of the plane crash in a mountainous area outside the Colombian city of Medellin. Plane carrying Brazilian football team Chapecoense crashes in Colombia Rex Medellin Plane Crash Rescue workers carry the body of a survivor of a plane that crashed in La Union, a mountainous area outside Medellin, Colombia AP Medellin Plane Crash Rescue workers carry the body of a man from a plane that crashed outside Medellin, Colombia. The plane was carrying the Brazilian first division soccer club Chapecoense team that was on it's way for a Copa Sudamericana final match against Colombia's Atletico Nacional AP Medellin Plane Crash Medical staff waiting for survivors of the crashed plane carrying the Brazilian football team Chapecoense, at San Juan de Dios La Ceja Hospital, in La Ceja municipality, near Medellin Rex Medellin Plane Crash Medical staff from the San Juan de Dios hospital transfer 27-year-old Brazilian soccer player Alan Ruschel as he arrives to La Ceja in Colombia Rex Medellin Plane Crash 81 people, including the players of the Brazilian soccer club Chapecoense, crashed in a mountainous area outside Medellin as it was approaching the Jose Maria Cordoba airport EPA Medellin Plane Crash Medical staff from the San Juan de Dios hospital transfer Brazilian journalist Rafael Henze as he arrives at La Ceja in Colombia after surviving a plane crash EPA Medellin Plane Crash razil's Chapecoense player Helio Neto is helped by paramedics at the San Juan de Dios clinic in La Ceja. Traveling on the doomed airliner that crashed in Colombia overnight were the players and staff of a Brazilian football club about to complete a fairytale journey from unknowns to would-be South American champions Getty Medellin Plane Crash Rescue workers search at the wreckage site of a chartered airplane that crashed outside Medellin, Colombia AP Medellin Plane Crash A charter plane carrying the Chapocoense Real football team crashed in the mountains in Colombia late Monday, killing as many as 75 people, officials said Getty Medellin Plane Crash Rescuers gesture near the wreckage of the LAMIA airlines charter plane carrying members of the Chapecoense Real football team that crashed in the mountains of Cerro Gordo, municipality of La Union Getty Medellin Plane Crash Supporters of the Chapcoense FC gathering at the club in Chapeco, Brazil EPA Medellin Plane Crash Supporters of the Chapcoense FC gathering at the club in Chapeco, Brazil EPA Medellin Plane Crash People pay tribute to the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense Real who were killed in a plane accident in the Colombian mountains, at the club's Arena Conda stadium in Chapeco Getty Medellin Plane Crash Fans pay tribute to members of the Chapecoense team in front of the club headquarters, in the city of Chapeco Getty Medellin Plane Crash People pay tribute to the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense Real who were killed in a plane accident in the Colombian mountains, at the club's Arena Conda stadium in Chapeco Getty Medellin Plane Crash People pay tribute to the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense Real who were killed in a plane accident in the Colombian mountains, at the club's Arena Conda stadium in Chapeco, in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina Getty

The team hail from the small city of Chapeco in south Brazil and had embarked on something of a fairy tale season this year. After gaining promotion to the Serie A in 2014 for the first time since the 1970s, Chapecoense reached the Copa Sudamericana final in what is South America’s equivalent to the Uefa Europa League. After seeing off San Lorenzo in a two-leg semi-final, they were due to play Colombian side Atletico Nacional on Wednesday before the return fixture in Chapeco next week.

The club have never won a major trophy in their history, having gained promotion through second and third-place finishes in Serie D, Serie C and Serie B between 2009 and 2014.

The Chapecoense squad pose for a picture ahead of their match against San Lorenzo last Wednesday (AFP)

Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea were among the many Premier League teams that sent messages of condolence to the Brazilian club, while a number of individuals also took the time to send their tributes to family, friends and supporters of the victims.

Supporters of the Chapcoense FC gathering at the club in Chapeco, Brazil (EPA)

Chelsea defender and Brazil international David Luiz wrote an emotional tribute to his former teammate and friend Arthur Maia, who died in the crash, and he posted a picture of the Chapecoense player that he had kept from their days playing for Vitoria together.

“Know that one day I had the pleasure to meet you and have you as a little brother,” Luiz wrote on Instagram. “Then we lost contact for each one to follow his way and today I wake up and know that you are no longer among us.

“With this news that breaks hearts around the world. I cannot believe it! May God comfort your family, friends and all the families involved!

“I keep this image saved as I always had of a pure and dreamy boy! God bless you!! Praying for all! #RIP #ArthurMaia”

Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale took to Twitter to say: “Absolutely horrendous to hear about the crash carrying @ChapecoenseReal My thoughts are with all the families of the passengers and crew!”

Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney added: “Sad news to wake up to today. Thoughts are with @ChapecoenseReal and their family and friends.”

A number of other Premier League players past and present penned tributes to the dead, and sent their support to their families and friends.