On November 28th 2016 Brazilian team Chapecoense, about to play the Southamerican Cup final against Columbian Atlético Nacional, was involved in an plane crash close to Columbian city Medellín. There were 71 casualties and only 6 survivors. “A tragedy reminding us of Superga” was the pained comment by Pope Francis. A feeling immediately shared by all Torino supporters and sports enthusiasts worldwide: it was impossible not to remember the days of grief and desperation caused by the plane crash of May 4th 1949, when Grande Torino disappeared. There were no survivors, 31 casualties including players, coaches, managers, journalists, pilots and crew members in a crash that wiped out the best Italian team of all times. A team that won 5 consecutive championships and would have won many more had it not been for WW2 and the Superga tragedy. A team that had produced 10 national team players out of 11 and achieved records that still stand today.

A year after the Medellin disaster, following a promise by President Urbano Cairo made to President De Nes Filho, Torino FC will play a league match wearing a shirt to honour the Brazilian club.

During Torino-Atalanta, on Saturday December 2nd, Belotti and the team will be wearing Chapecoense’s green shirt on the pitch. A shirt produced in a limited edition of 1500 items that will be on sale in Granata Stores and Kappa stores; part of the proceeds will be donated to the families of the victims of the plane crash. To remember and be tangibly close to them.

Toro and Chape, united by fate, friends forever.