Emiliano sala tragedy sparks nantes cardiff city legal dispute
A tragic and complex situation.
Emiliano Sala, an Argentine professional footballer, tragically died in a plane crash on January 21, 2019, while traveling from Nantes, France to Cardiff, Wales to join his new club, Cardiff City FC. The plane, a Piper PA-46 Malibu, disappeared from radar over the English Channel, and despite an extensive search effort, the wreckage was not found until February 3, 2019.
The tragedy sparked a legal dispute between Nantes and Cardiff City FC, with both clubs disputing the payment of the transfer fee. Here's a brief summary of the situation:
- Nantes had sold Sala to Cardiff City FC for a reported £15 million (approximately €17 million) on January 19, 2019.
- The transfer was subject to a payment schedule, with Cardiff City FC paying £5 million upfront and the remaining £10 million due after Sala had played a certain number of games for the club.
- After Sala's death, Nantes demanded that Cardiff City FC pay the remaining £10 million transfer fee, citing the terms of the agreement.
- Cardiff City FC, however, refused to pay the fee, arguing that the contract was null and void due to Sala's death, which meant that the transfer was not completed.
The dispute has been ongoing for several years, with both clubs taking legal action against each other. In 2020, a French court ruled in favor of Nantes, ordering Cardiff City FC to pay the remaining £10 million transfer fee. Cardiff City FC appealed the decision, and the case is still ongoing.
The tragedy of Emiliano Sala's death has had a profound impact on both clubs, as well as the football community as a whole. The dispute over the transfer fee has added an extra layer of complexity and sadness to the situation.