A Southampton fan was detained for making a plane gesture during the game against Cardiff City earlier tonight.
Emiliano Sala’s body was recovered earlier this week.
The player was missing for over two weeks after his aircraft lost signal over the Channel Islands on January 21.
An extensive rescue and recovery operation followed the incident. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) discovered the wreckage of the aircraft last week, and also found a body on the seabed.
The body was identified later. The aircraft’s pilot David Ibbotson, however, is still missing and calls for continuing the operation to find him have been made from Emiliano Sala’s family.
The Argentinian footballer signed for Cardiff City in the January transfer window. The footballer was travelling from Nantes to Cardiff when the incident happened.
Cardiff City’s fans sang Emiliano Sala’s name after their 2-0 win against Bournemouth last week, and the club led a series of tributes to the footballer.
Earlier today, the club registered a 2-1 win as Kenneth Zohore scored a dramatic injury-time winner against Southampton.
The occasion, however, was marred by a distasteful gesture made by two Southampton fans during the game. According to BBC, the fans were making aeroplane gestures and were later detained by the Hampshire Police.
Southampton Football Club ladies and gentlemen.
Not one fan felt the need to put this absolute brain dead “human being” in his place for mocking Cardiff City’s Emiliano Sala who was obviously killed in the airplane accident.
An individuals actions, which the others allowed.🤯 pic.twitter.com/QN5Stu5lo3
— Forever Boleyn (@ForeverBoleyn) February 9, 2019
Never tweet during a game but fucking Southampton fan doing plane gestures is fucking sick in the head
— Dlebeau 🏴 (@RealDanLebeau) February 9, 2019
“Such behaviour has no place in our game and will not be tolerated at St Mary’s,” read the statement from Southampton following the incident.
“Southampton Football Club can confirm that two fans were detained and had their details taken by police during our match against Cardiff City on Saturday.
“The club will continue to work with Hampshire Police to identify any individuals deemed to have made indecent gestures towards Cardiff supporters.
“The club will be taking an extremely firm stance against anyone involved and intends to ban those supporters identified.”
A Southampton fan was ejected from St Mary’s after making gestures towards the Cardiff City fans.
Well done to the Saints stewards for acting so quickly & getting rid of the moronic fan.
It’s a real shame that some fans can’t remember how to act when they’re at a football game.
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) February 9, 2019
Two Southampton fans arrested after making plane gestures to Cardiff supporters following death of Emiliano Sala as Saints pledge to impose bans https://t.co/gsmGHTd7Bs pic.twitter.com/zkQdUSlLeF
— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) February 9, 2019
That southampton fan mimicking a plane should be fucking ashamed. What a disgusting human 😒😒
— Conor Smith 🏴 (@welshdraigbale) February 9, 2019
Cardiff City’s manager Neil Warnock stated that a win was a tribute to Emiliano Sala.
“We wanted to do it for Emiliano and I’m really proud the lads have done him justice.”
