Cardiff Make First Payment To Nantes Four Years After Emiliano Sala Death

Four years ago this month, Emiliano Sala was on the way to Britain after Welsh side Cardiff City had acquired his signature from Nantes for €17m. His plane, however, crashed into the English Channel, killing both him and his pilot. According to a report from the BBC, the EFL Championship club have now paid Nantes the first instalment of his transfer fee.

Cardiff, who were relegated from the Premier League later that season, had initially contested the payment on the grounds that Sala had not been an official player at the time of his death. This led FIFA to place a three-year January transfer window embargo on the club. Cardiff now hope that their recent payment (to the tune of €8m, adjusted for interest on the original €6m invoice) to Nantes will convince FIFA to lift the embargo.

The Bluebirds sit in 20th place in the second tier of English football, and hope that the chance to sign players this month, if allowed, can help to rebuild and reinvigorate their season.