Pay Sala’s transfer fee, Nantes to Cardiff
Nantes have consulted lawyers to explore legal options to ensure Cardiff City pay the transfer fee for Emiliano Sala, a source close to the French club revealed Wednesday.
Sala, 28, was travelling from France to join up with his new Premier League club in a light aircraft on January 21 when it went missing close to the Channel Islands. According to the source, the first instalment of the 17-million-euro ($19.3 million) deal for the Argentine striker has yet to be paid, despite the transfer being finalised before the accident.
Nantes would also consider taking the case to FIFA, the source added. The club has not yet responded to a request for comment by AFP. According to BBC Wales, Nantes have given Cardiff a 10-day ultimatum over the first payment of between five and six million euros.
A source at Cardiff told British media that the Welsh club will honour the contract but only once they have clarified “all the facts”. Cardiff are said to be “surprised” with the timing of the demand so soon after the tragedy.
There appears to be considerable tension between the clubs. Regional newspaper OuestFrance quoted an anonymous source at Nantes calling Cardiff’s attitude “hypocritical”, accusing them of “wanting to buy time”.
BODY FOUND
British investigators on Wednesday said they had recovered a body from the wreckage of the plane carrying Sala in the Channel. However, authorities have not given out the identity.
Bad weather has forced the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) to abandon hopes of pulling the wreckage to shore. The light aircraft was carrying the 28-year-old footballer to his new Premier League team Cardiff City when it disappeared near the island of Guernsey on January 21, along with 59-year-old pilot David Ibbotson. A shipwreck hunter hired by Sala’s family with the help of funds donated by stars such as Lionel Messi found the plane wreckage on Sunday.
The AAIB who then took over the operation revealed on Monday that a body had been found.
INDIA DROP, QATAR RISE
After bowing out in the group stages of the AFC Asian Cup with one win and two defeats, the Indian men’s national football team slipped six places in the latest FIFA world rankings, released on Thursday, to be placed 103. This is the first time India are ranked outside of the top-100 since February last year.
Qatar rose 38 places following their Asian Cup triumph and are now 55th, their highest ever position. Japan’s run to the final has seen them shoot up to 23 places to 27th. Belgium remain first in an unchanged top 10.