Chapecoense goalkeeper who didn't travel on plane retires

Chapecoense's veteran goalkeeper Nivaldo has retired a day after the horrific plane crash in Colombia that took the lives of 71 people - including 19 team members - late Monday night.

Related: Plane carrying a Brazilian soccer club crashes in Colombia; 71 dead

The 42-year-old was on 299 league appearances ahead of the tie Chapecoense was travelling to - Wednesday's first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final in Medellin - but chose to skip the match to instead celebrate his impending milestone in front of home fans against Atletico Mineiro the following Wednesday.

In the wake of the devastating news, however, Nivaldo has opted to hang up his gloves.

“I was supposed to go on the trip but ended up staying," Nivaldo told Eduardo Matos, with translation from Sports Illustrated.

"Everything has a reason in life. I didn't travel to Palmeiras (on Sunday), because it would make my farewell game to play here against Atletico-MG, when I would complete 300 games for the club.

"As there was a change in the trip, they would not return to Chapeco and instead go straight from Sao Paulo to Medellin. So Caio (the coach) said he would not take me."

Three of Nivaldo's former teammates survived the crash. Alan Ruschel suffered spinal injuries, Helio Zampier Neto suffered injuries to his skull and chest, and backup goalkeeper Jakson Follman is in stable condition after his right leg was amputated.

In an outpouring of support from Brazilian clubs, fellow Serie A outfits have requested Chapecoense be exempt from relegation for three seasons, and have pledged to loan the team players free of charge.

"It is a minimal gesture of solidarity that is at our disposal at the moment," Brazilian giant Sao Paulo said in a statement.

Wednesday's slated opponent, Colombian powerhouse and reigning Copa Libertadores champion Atletico Nacional, also made an official plea for the Copa Sudamericana to be awarded to their "brothers" from Brazil.

Around 10,000 family, friends, and fans of Chapecoense gathered at the side's Arena Conda home on Wednesday for a mass wake.

Related: 10,000 Chapecoense supporters attend vigil for plane crash victims