Thousands in tribute to Sala

– The death in a plane crash of Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala was a cruel blow to family, friends and supporters in his home village in Argentina, and on Saturday they came, grieving, from miles around to pay their respects.

Through the morning, mourners gathered for a public vigil in a gymnasium in Progreso, the small farming town in Santa Fe province which Sala left as a teenager to play in Europe.

As his heartbroken father, mother and sister watched on Saturday, a giant poster of the 28-year-old hung behind his coffin, which was draped in the red and white colours of the San Martin de Progreso club where he began his career.

Sala’s father Horacio was devastated by his son’s death, family members said, and refused for days to leave his home.

More than 3 000 mourners came to pay their respects.

“We all carry Emi in our hearts,” said Mayor Julio Muller in an emotional tribute.

Sala had played for Nantes, becoming one of the top strikers in France, before being sold in January to Cardiff City in England’s Premier League in a £15 million deal.

On the flight across the English Channel, the single-engine private plane carrying Sala and pilot David Ibbotson crashed into the sea near the British island of Guernsey.

Sala reportedly had messaged friends from the plane, flying in rough weather, that he was “so afraid” and that the plane “seems like it’s falling to pieces.”

The player’s body was recovered from the submerged wreckage on February 7 but 59-year-old Ibbotson remains missing.

Thousands of supporters – including French star Kylian Mbappe and former England captain Gary Lineker – had donated a total of more than $400 000 to pay for a private sea-bottom search after authorities had given up hope of finding the plane.

An inquest in England later concluded that the footballer died of “head and trunk injuries.”

Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock and club executive Ken Choo travelled to Argentina to attend the ceremony.

“It was important for us to come and pay our respects to the family,” Warnock said. – AFP