Bluebirds dismiss fears they could be docked points

CARDIFF City are dismissive of claims they could be docked Premier League points over the Emiliano Sala fee wrangle.

The Press Association, a national news agency, have reported a sports law expert making the suggestion if Cardiff do not honour the £15million fee owed to Nantes for the transfer.

They quote Zurich-based lawyer Gianpaolo Monteneri as warning the Bluebirds could be punished, saying: “This can be from an admonishment right up to a withdrawal of league points.”

Monteneri was head of FIFA’s Players’ Status Department from 1997-2005 before setting up his own firm, specialising in international sports law.

But Cardiff are unhappy with the reports and feel it is causing unnecessary angst amongst their fan base.

The Bluebirds, and their supporters, are still trying to come to terms with the Sala tragedy. His body was recovered from the English channel and formally identified by Dorset police on Thursday night.

Although Cardiff are not saying anything officially, due to the sensitivity of the matter, behind the scenes they are totally dismissive of suggestions they could be docked points and say it is ‘absolutely not true.’

We understand the Bluebirds had previously spoken to the Premier League about the highly complex matter and have been given assurances.

The Bluebirds are locked in a relegation battle and meet rivals Southampton in a classic six-pointer down on the south coast today.

Although he is a sports specialist, Monteneri is not familiar with the complexities of the Sala case.

One of the key issues surrounds whether the Argentine striker was officially registered as a Cardiff City player or not.

Although Sala’s documents were lodged with the Football Association of Wales, there is a dispute about whether they were placed with the Premier League before his disappearance.

Cardiff had announced Sala as their player two days before the accident, but emphasised it was subject to clearance from the authorities.

The Bluebirds were stunned to receive a demand from Nantes for the first £5m instalment of the Sala fee while he was still missing. They feel the timing was highly insensitive.

However, Nantes’ first demand was followed up by a subsequent formal latter warning they will sue if the money is not paid.

Cardiff have taken advice of their own from a leading London barrister and are set for a legal battle with Nantes over the matter.

The Bluebirds say they will do the right thing, but first want full facts disclosed about what happened and the involvement of agents with Nantes in the deal.

There are a number of questions Cardiff want answered and they have launched their own investigation into the matter.

Monteneri did concede: “It is a very tricky situation as we are talking about a human tragedy and an important amount of money.

“It is a human case on one side, and on the other side for Nantes, a financial case and compensation that they are potentially not receiving.

“They have also lost a key player and for them it is a sporting effect as well that needs to be considered.”

Sala’s body was formally identified on Thursday night, but pilot David Ibbotson, who was flying the Piper Malibu plane, is still missing.

A report in the Times yesterday says Nantes are asking FIFA to look into the matter.

The issue could even end up in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the independent institution based in the Swiss city of Lausanne, which resolves legal disputes in the world of sport.

Bordeaux are also entitled to a 50 per cent cut of the Sala fee as the striker was on their books from 2012 to 2015 before joining Nantes.