Cardiff are ordered to pay £5.1m to Nantes to cover the first instalment of Emiliano Sala’s transfer fee as the Court of Arbitration for Sport rule the transfer WAS complete before the footballer’s tragic death in a plane crash

• Cardiff have been told to pay Nantes the first part of Emiliano Sala’s transfer fee 
• The striker died in 2019 when a light aircraft crashed into the English Channel 
• Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled the deal was complete before his passing 
• CAS has ordered Cardiff to pay the French club £5.1m to cover the transfer 
• Cardiff said they were ‘disappointed’ by the decision and will launch an appeal 

Cardiff City have been ordered to pay the first instalment of the £15million transfer fee they agreed with Nantes for Emiliano Sala after losing their appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Cardiff had been arguing Sala was not officially their player when the 28-year-old Argentine died in a plane crash over the English Channel in January 2019. He was travelling from France to join the then-Premier League club. 

Despite the order from CAS to pay an initial £5.1m to Nantes, Cardiff are maintaining they will not pay the French club, announcing that they plan to prolong their legal battle.

The Welsh club yesterday said they were ‘disappointed’ by the decision and wrote in a statement: ‘The award fails to decide the crucial question of Nantes’ (and its agents) liability for the crash, which will therefore have to be decided in another forum. 

‘Once the club’s lawyers have digested the reasons for the decision, we expect to appeal and will not be making any payments to FC Nantes in the meanwhile.

‘If those appeals are unsuccessful and the club is liable to pay the transfer fee, the club will take legal action against those responsible for the crash for damages to recover its losses. This will include FC Nantes, and its agents.

Cardiff have been ordered to pay Nantes the first part of Emiliano Sala’s transfer worth £5.1m

The Argentine striker died in a light aircraft crash two days after Cardiff announced the signing

‘All our thoughts must continue to be with Emiliano’s family, who are now supported financially by the trust the club put in place for them.’

Sala, along with the pilot, David Ibbotson, 59, died when the single-engine Piper Malibu aircraft crashed into the sea. 

Yesterday’s outcome of Cardiff’s appeal comes after world governing body FIFA previously ruled the club should pay the first instalment of the transfer to Nantes.

Cardiff said the decision was ‘disappointing’ and that it plans to launch an appeal 

Supporters gathered to pay their respects to Sala when Nantes met Bordeaux in January 2020

CAS said yesterday: ‘After taking into due consideration all the evidence produced and all the arguments put forward by both clubs, the CAS panel found the player’s transfer from Nantes to Cardiff City to have been completed. 

‘And, because the conditions set out in the transfer agreement were fulfilled prior to the player’s death, Nantes’ claim for the first instalment of the transfer fee in the amount of 6m euros (£5.1m) was upheld.’

Nantes said in a statement: ‘Nantes is delighted that this procedure — initiated by Cardiff then delayed on numerous occasions by Cardiff — which has been difficult for all those close to Emiliano, is finally over. The club hopes that this will mark the end of the public misinformation campaign, which we have never reacted to, out of respect for the player’s family.’

The proceedings were only concerned with the first instalment of Sala’s £14.4m transfer fee

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