World football governing body, FIFA, has mandated Sky Bet Championship side Cardiff City to pay French Ligue 1 side FC Nantes the sum of £5.3million for the transfer of the late Argentine striker, Emiliano Sala during the January 2019 transfer window.
Cardiff City were in the Premier League when they secured the services of Sala for the club’s record £15million transfer fee. Unfortunately, the striker, aged 28, died in a plane mishap before he could make an appearance for the club, with Nantes yet to receive the contractual initial payment.
Late Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson
Nantes reported Cardiff City to FIFA after the Championship side who were relegated from the Premier League at the end of last term showed lackadaisical attitude over making the initial payment, claiming there were ‘anomalies’ in the contract.
The FIFA Players’ Status Committee on Monday released a statement mandating Cardiff City to pay Nantes €6million (£5.3million) for the late Emiliano Sala.
“In a meeting held on 25 September 2019, the FIFA Players’ Status Committee established that Cardiff City FC must pay FC Nantes the sum of EUR 6,000,000, corresponding to the first instalment due in accordance with the transfer agreement concluded between the parties on 19 January 2019 for the transfer of the late Emiliano Sala from FC Nantes to Cardiff City FC,” FIFA said in its Statement.
“The FIFA Players’ Status Committee, which never lost sight of the specific and unique circumstances of this tragic situation during its deliberations on the dispute at stake, refrained from imposing procedural costs on the parties.
Emiliano Sala as new Cardiff City Signing
“The findings of the decision were notified to the parties concerned today [Monday September 30].
“Within a deadline of ten days, Cardiff City FC and FC Nantes can request a copy of the grounds of the decision, which can be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.”
