Cardiff City lose Emiliano Sala transfer fee appeal

Cardiff City have been ordered to pay the first installment of Emiliano Sala’s transfer fee after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled the deal was complete before his death.

Sala joined the then English Premier League club from Nantes in January 2019 in a deal worth €17million, and the French side’s claim for the first €6million under the terms of the deal has been upheld by CAS.

A statement issued by CAS on Friday afternoon read: “The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the appeal filed by Cardiff City Football Club against Football Club de Nantes in relation to the decision issued by the bureau of the FIFA players’ status committee on September 25, 2019 (the challenged decision).

“The challenged decision, in which Cardiff City FC was ordered to pay six million euros to FC Nantes in connection with the transfer of the player Emiliano Sala between the clubs, is confirmed.”

The Argentinian died when the light aircraft he was travelling in from France crashed into the English Channel on 21 January 2019, two days after the Welsh outfit had announced his signing, with neither him nor the pilot, David Ibbotson, surviving.

The news puts an end to three years of court proceedings, rejecting City’s final appeal which ultimately means that the Bluebirds will have to pay the full €17 million transfer fee of Sala in three installments. Sala’s previous club, Bordeaux will receive 50% of the transfer.

Nantes release statement

In a statement, Ligue 1 club FC Nantes said: “We are delighted that this process – initiated by Cardiff City and then delayed on numerous occasions by Cardiff City - which has been difficult for all those close to Emiliano, is finally closed. This will mark an end to the public information campaign, to which we never reacted, out of respect for the player’s family”.