Cardiff face long transfer banif they miss Sala payment

Cardiff City face a three-window transfer ban unless they pay the first instalment of the

17mil (RM78mil) transfer fee for Emiliano Sala to Nantes.

The Argentine, 28, died when the light aircraft he was travelling in from France to Britain crashed into the English Channel in January.

Cardiff and Nantes were unable to reach an amicable conclusion on the financial aspects of the move, so the case came before the Players’ Status Committee (PSC) of FIFA.

The world governing body announced on Sept 30 that Cardiff must pay an initial 6mil (RM27mil) to the French club.

Documents published on Monday, detailing the grounds for the decision, show that failure by Cardiff to pay the fee within 45 days of receiving bank details from Nantes following the ruling would mean “a ban on registering new players, either nationally or internationally, up until the due amounts are paid and for the maximum duration of three entire and consecutive registration periods”.

According to a source close to Nantes, the French club sent bank details to Cardiff “at the beginning of October”, which would mean the Welsh outfit has until mid-November to make the payment and thereby avoid a transfer ban.

“Nantes expect everyone to fulfil their commitments and that the amount due to them is paid,” a source said.

Cardiff confirmed on Monday they would lodge an appeal against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within the next two weeks.

They said the act of announcing they would appeal had effectively stopped the clock on the 45-day countdown. — AFP