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50 PLANECRASH survivor Alan Ruschel will play for Chapecoense in a pre-season friendly against Barce- lona. The Brazilian club were travelling to play in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final against Atletico Nacional last November when their jet carrying players, club officials and journalists came down near the Co- lombian city of Medellin. Defender Ruschel, 27, was among the six survivors of the crash, in which 71 people died. The Nova Hartz-born left-back required surgery on a seri- ous back injury but has now resumed training. Chapecoense have rebuilt their squad and have since returned to competitive action in South America but Ruschel's recovery and availabil- ity represent an "important step" for both parties. A statement published on the club's official website read: "Chapecoense can confirm that after a joint deci- sion by the board, the department of football and the player himself, who is fit to play, the official return of Alan Ruschel to the side will take place on August 7 against Barcelona at the Nou Camp. "Alan's return represents an impor- tant step in his recovery and in the process of rebuilding the squad. "Considering the magnitude of this match against a great Spanish team, in one of the temples of world football, we recognise that the game represents the ideal occasion for his return." Barca, who announced plans for this friendly meeting last month, will contest the Joan Gamper Tro- phy with Chapecoense. The fixture traditionally serves as the official un- veiling of the Barca team each season in front of their own fans. Sport maltatoday, SUNDAY, 30 JULY 2017 FOOTBALL Subscribe to the e-paper Read the MaltaToday and MaltaToday midweek at 5am on the morning of publication on your Desktop, Tablet or Smartphone Subscribe now at www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/maltatodayepaper With any new annual subscription you will get a FREE copy of your choice either Saviour Balzan's 'Saying It As It Is' or 'GourmetToday 100 best recipes' worth over €20 Subscription options 1 edition: €0.80 3 months: €15.00 MaltaToday and MaltaToday Midweek 6 months: €28.00 MaltaToday and MaltaToday Midweek 12 months: €50.00 + FREE BOOK *best value* Alan Ruschel, who survived Chapecoense plane crash, will play against Barcelona in friendly Alan Ruschel: Plane-crash survivor TV reporter gets death threats after Santos accusations A pitch-side reporter accused by Santos of influencing the result of a Brazilian cup match this week defended himself on Friday after re- ceiving death threats. TV Globo reporter Eric Faria got the threats following Santos' elimi- nation by Flamengo in the Copa do Brasil quarter-final on Wednesday. The game at the Vila Belmiro ground ended 4-2 to Santos but Fla- mengo went through on away goals, with one of the key moments com- ing shortly before halftime when Santos were awarded a penalty just yards from where Faria was posi- tioned. The referee changed his mind af- ter consulting with the linesman and the fourth official, who, Santos said, was warned to review the de- cision by Faria, even though Video Assistant Referees (VAR) were not being used. In a letter to the Brazilian Football Confederation, Santos accused Faria of behaving more like a fan than a reporter and appealed for the result to be annulled. The club, famous as home to Pele and Neymar, said Faria had past his- tory in interfering in games from the sidelines and called for a blanket ban on pitch-side reporters. "Football is going crazy," a shaken Faria told the Redacao SporTV pro- gramme on Friday morning. "I am here today talking about a flimsy, false accusation that is giving me headaches on social media. I've re- ceived a load of death threats, peo- ple telling me that if I go to the Vila Belmiro I'll leave in a hearse, that I am going to get beat up, stoned, and all that."