Sala’s body found in wreckage of plane
Police have confirmed that the body recovered from a plane in the English Channel is that of Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala.
Dorset police made the announcement yesterday after a coroner’s examination of the body, which was recovered from the seabed wreckage of the plane on Thursday.
Sala, who had just signed with English Premier League club Cardiff, and pilot David Ibbotson were the only people on board the small aircraft that disappeared over the English Channel last month.
Investigators have not been able to recover the aircraft, which was flying from Nantes to Cardiff after Sala transferred from the French city’s team.
The news comes as Nantes reportedly demanded that Cardiff pay the £15 million (NZ$28 million) transfer fee for Sala in the next 10 days, or face legal action.
BBC Wales said Cardiff are expected to honour the fee, which was set to be paid in instalments over three years, but they had withheld the first scheduled payment while the investigation into the tragedy continued.
UK newspaper The Telegraph reported a legal letter from Nantes was emailed to Cardiff on Wednesday to request urgent payment, which was the second demand in the space of a week.
Cardiff were understood to be taken aback by the timing of the emails, The Telegraph reported.
Cardiff are believed to have had £16 million (NZ$30 million) of personal accident protection with the financial giant Lloyd’s to cover its players.
The Telegraph reported Sala was understood to be on their list of players covered under the policy.
French club Bordeaux are also entitled to a cut of the fee, which is thought to be 50 per cent – Sala was on their books from 2012 to 2015 before joining Nantes.