Chapecoense air crash survivor Neto retires from soccer

By: Mauricio Savarese, The Associated Press Posted: 1:26 PM CST Friday, Dec. 13, 2019 Last Modified: 2:57 PM CST Friday, Dec. 13, 2019

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SAO PAULO - One of the six survivors of the air crash that killed almost all of the Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense in 2016 announced his playing retirement on Friday.

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SAO PAULO - One of the six survivors of the air crash that killed almost all of the Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense in 2016 announced his playing retirement on Friday.

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This article was published 13/12/2019 (2458 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SAO PAULO – One of the six survivors of the air crash that killed almost all of the Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense in 2016 announced his playing retirement on Friday.

Neto, a 34-year-old defender, spent two years rehabilitating after the crash that killed 71 people in Colombia. He returned to training in March. But in an interview he said his pain was too intense to play again.

“I am in agreement with doctors and the club. I wanted a farewell match, but I chose not to,” Neto told TV Globo.

FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2017 file photo, Neto, a former Chapecoense soccer player who survived the teams deadly plane crash in 2016, stands on the field as he is honored prior to a friendly match between Brazil and Colombia at Nilton Santos stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Neto announced his retirement from the sport on Friday, Dec. 13, 2019. The 34-year-old tried to recover for two years after the accident that killed 71 people in Colombia and returned to training in March. But in an interview he said his pains were too intense to play again. (AP Photo/Leo Correa, File)

“My body couldn’t take it anymore. The pains were bigger than the pleasure.”

He said his knees and back hurt the most.

Chapecoense’s plane went down en route to the team’s first South American tournament final against Colombia’s Atletico Nacional. It ran out of fuel near Medellin.

The southern Brazilian team was later awarded the Copa Sudamericana title, despite not playing the final.

Neto said Chapecoense was considering keeping him as a board member. The club was mired in debt and relegated to the second division this year.

Two other players survived the crash: Alan Ruschel, a 30-year-old defender, was still active and on loan to first division club Goias, and Jackson Follmann, a goalkeeper who lost part of his right leg, has hopes of becoming a Brazilian Paralympic athlete.

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