Bordeaux supporters display a banner depicting late Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala during the French Ligue 1 match against Toulouse at the Matmut Atlantique Stadium. AFP
Bordeaux supporters display a banner depicting late Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala during the French Ligue 1 match against Toulouse at the Matmut Atlantique Stadium. AFP
Bordeaux supporters display a banner depicting late Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala during the French Ligue 1 match against Toulouse at the Matmut Atlantique Stadium. AFP
Bordeaux supporters display a banner depicting late Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala during the French Ligue 1 match against Toulouse at the Matmut Atlantique Stadium. AFP

Nantes refer Emiliano Sala transfer dispute with Cardiff City to Fifa


Steve Luckings
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Nantes have referred their dispute with Cardiff City regarding Emiliano Sala's transfer fee to world governing body Fifa, according to a report.

Agence France-Presse reported Wednesday that the French club have taken their case to Fifa after the Welsh club missed a deadline for the first instalment of Sala's £15 million (Dh73m) fee on February 27.

The clubs are wrangling over payment of the fee following the tragic death of 28-year-old Argentine striker, who died when a single-engine plane carrying him from France en route to the Welsh capital crashed into the English Channel on January 21.

An inquest into the player's death this month found that Sala died of head and trunk injuries.

  • Mercedes Taffarel, mother of Argentine soccer player Emiliano Sala is comforted by Nantes defender Nicolas Pallois. AP Photo
    Mercedes Taffarel, mother of Argentine soccer player Emiliano Sala is comforted by Nantes defender Nicolas Pallois. AP Photo
  • Executive Secretary of FC Nantes Loic Morin walks after the vigil. Getty Images
    Executive Secretary of FC Nantes Loic Morin walks after the vigil. Getty Images
  • Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock and Cardiff City CEO Ken Choo during the burial. AP Photo
    Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock and Cardiff City CEO Ken Choo during the burial. AP Photo
  • Romina Sala, sister of Emiliano Sala, kisses her brother's coffin. AFP
    Romina Sala, sister of Emiliano Sala, kisses her brother's coffin. AFP
  • Neighbors of Argentine soccer player Emiliano Sala, wait for his remains to depart for Santa Fe after his wake in Progreso, Argentina. AP Photo
    Neighbors of Argentine soccer player Emiliano Sala, wait for his remains to depart for Santa Fe after his wake in Progreso, Argentina. AP Photo
  • Mercedes Taffarel, mother of Emiliano Sala, looks at the coffin after a vigil. Getty Images
    Mercedes Taffarel, mother of Emiliano Sala, looks at the coffin after a vigil. Getty Images
  • People surround the hearse carrying the coffin of Emiliano Sala. AFP
    People surround the hearse carrying the coffin of Emiliano Sala. AFP
  • Nantes footballer Nicolas Pallois, Dario Sala, brother of Emiliano Sala, and his father Horacio Sala carry the coffin. Getty Images
    Nantes footballer Nicolas Pallois, Dario Sala, brother of Emiliano Sala, and his father Horacio Sala carry the coffin. Getty Images
  • Horacio Sala, father of Emiliano, cries after a vigil. Getty Images
    Horacio Sala, father of Emiliano, cries after a vigil. Getty Images
  • Emialiano Sala's coffin is carried from Club Atletico Deportivo San Martin during the funeral service in Progreso. AFP
    Emialiano Sala's coffin is carried from Club Atletico Deportivo San Martin during the funeral service in Progreso. AFP
  • Cardiff City CEO Ken Choo attends Emiliano Sala's wake. Reuters
    Cardiff City CEO Ken Choo attends Emiliano Sala's wake. Reuters

After an extensive search involving local and French authorities, wreckage was found on February 3 following a privately-funded underwater search and Sala's body was recovered three days later while the plane's pilot, David Ibbotson, is still missing.

Staff from both clubs, including Cardiff manager Neil Warnock and chief executive Ken Choo, traveled to Argentina last week to attend Sala's funeral.

Last week it was reported that an error made by Cardiff when registering Sala with the Premier League was not resolved before the player's death.

It is understood Cardiff have also written to Nantes seeking evidence the French club had fully deregistered the Argentine prior to the January 21 crash.