LONDON – For many, the sport of football is a bond, part of their DNA, a ritual of entertainment, an activity which is not just a sport, but indeed a way of life.

Its competitive nature is the subject of many conversations, with Brits particularly nostalgic remembering their 1966 World Cup win. So when a plane crashed, resulting in the deaths of a Brazilian football team, the top division Chapecoense, it affected everyone.

The Chapecoense are a Series A team from the town of Chapeco in Southern Brazil. They were en route to play the biggest game in their club’s history in the Copa Sudamericana. As controversy surrounds the cause of the crash, 75 of the 81 people on board died, including 19 members of their team.

Here in England, we Brits are suffering from a football crisis of our own.  In the past week, over 18 regional police forces have received reports of children being sexually abused at football clubs across the country. One club, Chelsea, even reportedly paid a former team member £50,000 to stay silent about the allegations.

Captains of three English football teams, Wayne Rooney, Steph Houghton, and Jack Rutter, have taken part in a video for the NSPCC and the FA, on how to keep children safe in the sport. It is expected that more will be revealed and considerable actions taken place to help ensure the safety of children going forward.

Of course not all Brits are so driven by the sport. I only ever played it at school to avoid playing cricket; my preferred sport was and still is squash. And my first ever spectator football match at Wembley was only because of complimentary tickets from a sibling’s workplace. Still, this does not mean that I do not respect people’s passion for the sport, nor feel their sorrow, as football fans from around the country respond to the tragedy:

“As a Manchester United fan, we experienced the tragedy of the 1958 Munich air crash when sadly over half the passengers including players, staff and journalists lost their lives. I can only imagine the heartache of the families of the players and indeed fans of the club and beyond are feeling. Thoughts and prayers, and never forget them in years to come.”

Rooful Ali

“I’m actually quite speechless on that. I wasn’t around for the Munich Air Crash, but this would be it’s equivalent. My condolences and thoughts to the families of the dead, and I can only imagine what the fans must also be going through, football is more than just a “sport” for us.

Raheel Shaban

“With news now stating that re-fueling was ignored, no contingency plan, all to overcome an hours delay, 71 people died. We live in a world that frets with even the slightest delay and this is one of those consequences. We can fly…it still amazes me that we can fly, and people moan when there is a delay of an hour, seriously?!!”

Ali Akbar

‘A tragic and avoidable accident that has devastated not only the families of the bereaved, but the whole football community in Brazil.’ ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and supporters of Chapecoense. They will forever be playing the beautiful game in a the eternal fields of heaven.’

Maqusood Khanzada

“I don’t know too much about the Brazil team or football in general, but any crash like this is a tragedy. The only thing I can add is that it’s a miracle anyone survived looking at the photo’s and that can only be a positive thing in light of such sadness.”

Harris Haji

In tribute to those who have lost their lives, a one-minute silence will be held before every football match this weekend. FIFA, have also asked players to wear black armbands by way of remembrance. For any observing the silence, I ask that we remember not just the players and the coaching staff who died, but all of the other passengers who too lost their lives.