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\t\tCardiff City\u2019s \u00a3100m damages claim surrounding Sala will be heard today \t<\/p>\n
Cardiff City\u2019s \u00a3100m damages claim surrounding the 2019 transfer of Nantes striker Emiliano Sala will be heard today in France.<\/p>\n
The Welsh club argues that they\u2019re owed damages after the death of Sala, who was killed when his plane crashed on the way to Cardiff for a \u00a315m transfer in January 2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He and the pilot, David Ibbotson, died in the English Channel near Guernsey. Cardiff believe Sala was of such a quality that they\u2019d have maintained their place in the Premier League.<\/p>\n
The flight was later found to be unlicensed, with trip organiser David Henderson sentenced to 18 months in prison for endangering the safety of an aircraft.<\/p>\n
The Nantes commercial court will today hear Cardiff\u2019s claims that the Ligue 1 club is responsible for the financial consequences of Sala\u2019s death. Nantes have previously denied such suggestions and Cardiff have chosen a French jurisdiction to avoid\u00a0future disputes over location.<\/p>\n
\t\tSala saga reaches key point<\/p>\n
Cardiff refused to pay the transfer fee before appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after football governing body Fifa demanded they pay Nantes. Their appeal was unsuccessful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a statement issued ahead of the hearing, Cardiff said: \u201cThe hearing marks another step towards uncovering the truth and establishing more accountability in football.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis case isn\u2019t about harming football: it\u2019s about protecting its integrity. This is about ensuring higher standards across our sport, especially surrounding transfers.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Emiliano Sala deserved better. Because football deserves better.\u201d<\/p>\n
The case is set to be heard in Nantes by elected business owners and directors, rather than the legal profession.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Added Cardiff: \u201cThis tragedy, which began nearly seven years ago, cost Emiliano Sala his life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a tragedy that could and should have been avoided, had the people involved in the transfer on FC Nantes\u2019 side not relied on the services of a banned agent, who went on to organise illegal flights to get the deal done.\u201d<\/p>\n
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