Nantes has made a claim to FIFA against Premier League side Cardiff City over the payment of Emiliano Sala’s transfer fee.
Cardiff City are due to pay the first instalment of the transfer fee today.
The Premier League side secured the signing of the late footballer last month. While returning to Cardiff, Sala’s aircraft crashed into the sea on January 22.
After an intensive recovery operation, his body was found on February 7.
Sala’s funeral was held in his hometown of Progreso in Argentina on February 15.
The footballing world paid tributes to Emiliano Sala following the incident. While Cardiff City sang his name in their first home game of the season, Nantes stopped their game against St. Etienne in the 9th minute to conduct minute-long applause for the footballer.
It has now been determined that Nantes has demanded the payment of the first instalment of the fees for Emiliano Sala.
Cardiff City are due to pay the complete transfer fee (15 million pounds) over a three-year instalment.
They’ve approached FIFA with a claim against Cardiff City for the payment.
“We can confirm we have received a claim . . . in connection with the transfer,” said a spokesman from football’s governing body.
“We are looking into the matter and consequently we have no further comments at this stage.”
Cardiff were initially due to pay the first instalment on February 20, but both the clubs agreed to extend the deadline by a week. The French side wrote to Cardiff City regarding the payment of the fee in the first week of February.
Bordeaux are due 50% of the total transfer fee for Emiliano Sala because of a sell-on clause when they sold Sala to Nantes in 2015.
The pilot of the aircraft, David Ibbotson remains missing since the incident.
