Ex-Saba Defender Machado Dies at Colombia Plane Crash


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Former Iran’s Saba defender Filipe Machado died in Colombia plane crash.

There were 72 passengers and nine crewmembers on board, including members of Chapecoense, a Brazilian first division soccer team.

The team was expected to play in the Copa Sudamerica finals against Atletico Nacional on Wednesday in Medellin.

The final match has been suspended.

Machado was a member of Iranian football team Saba and played 28 times for the Qom-based team last season.

The plane is a British Aerospace 146 short-haul plane. It is not clear what caused the crash, but Colombia had been hit by heavy rains and thunderstorms in recent hours.