Cardiff City are still pursuing a €120 million claim from French club Nantes following the tragic death of Argentine striker Emiliano Sala in 2019. The Welsh club is reportedly working with a specialist data firm to assess whether their Premier League status could have been secured that year if Sala had not died in a plane crash before making his debut for the club.
Cardiff’s Legal Battle with Nantes
The dispute between Cardiff City and Nantes has been ongoing since Sala’s untimely death. The Welsh club had signed Sala for a transfer fee of €17 million in January 2019, making him their record signing at the time. However, just days after the agreement, Sala died in a tragic plane crash over the English Channel while traveling from Nantes to Cardiff. Despite his passing, FIFA ruled that Cardiff must still pay Nantes the agreed transfer fee, which led to Cardiff’s legal efforts to avoid the payment.
€120M Claim: Could Sala Have Saved Cardiff’s Premier League Status?
As part of their claim, Cardiff City is seeking compensation of €120 million from Nantes, asserting that Sala’s presence could have helped the club avoid relegation from the Premier League in 2019. To support their case, the club has called on a specialist data firm to analyze the potential impact Sala could have had on their results. Cardiff ultimately finished the 2018-19 season in 18th place, just two points behind Brighton, and were relegated to the Championship.
The data firm is reportedly assessing what the club’s chances of survival might have been with Sala in the squad. Cardiff believes that if the striker had been able to play, his goal-scoring ability could have provided the edge needed to stay in England’s top flight.
FIFA’s Ruling and Cardiff’s Continued Resistance
Despite FIFA’s ruling that Cardiff should pay Nantes the €17 million transfer fee, the Welsh club has continued to resist the decision. Cardiff has raised concerns about the legitimacy of the transfer and the events leading up to the crash. The legal battle between the two clubs has further complicated matters, with the €120 million claim being a significant escalation in the dispute.
Cardiff City’s pursuit of €120 million from Nantes over Emiliano Sala’s tragic death adds another layer of complexity to an already emotional situation. The Welsh club’s decision to involve a specialist data firm to determine what could have happened on the pitch reflects their ongoing commitment to contesting the transfer payment. While FIFA has ruled that Cardiff must pay the transfer fee, the case shows no signs of resolution as both clubs remain locked in a legal struggle.
Summary
Cardiff City are still claiming €120 million from Nantes over the Emiliano Sala transfer.
The club is using a data firm to assess whether Sala could have saved them from relegation.
FIFA previously ordered Cardiff to pay Nantes €17 million for Sala’s transfer.