Sala died when the light aircraft he was travelling in from France crashed into the English Channel in January 2019.
Football’s global governing body FIFA has ordered Cardiff to make the final two payments to Nantes for the transfer of Emiliano Sala.
Sala died when the light plane he was traveling on from France crashed into the English Channel in January 2019, two days after Cardiff announced the signing of the 28-year-old Argentine striker from Nantes.
The French club’s claim to the first six million euros (just over £5m) of the £15m transfer fee was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last August and Cardiff announced on Friday that they have now been ordered by FIFA to pay the final two installments fee.
Cardiff have paid the first instalment, and are now understood to be willing – albeit reluctantly – to pay the remaining two.
Cardiff filed a negligence claim in the French courts against Nantes. He claims that Nantes must be held accountable for the accident that led to Sal’s death, and claims that Nantes’ agent arranged the flight.
The Welsh club said in a statement on Friday that Nantes chief executive Franck Kita had been placed in police custody alongside agent Bakari Sanog, which they said was related to an investigation launched in France last June into allegations of illegal activities of sports agents, forgery and use fakes. , misuse of company property and money laundering.
The club said their negligence claim proved direct exchanges which they say show Kita informed Sanogo of the proposed transfer fee for Sala. Cardiff said it was unclear why Kita informed Sanogo of the fee.
Cardiff said: “In the circumstances, the club believes it would be fairer if the demand for payment from FC Nantes is deferred pending the conclusion of the investigation by the French police and the club’s action against FC Nantes in the French courts.”
A week ago, the EFL announced that an independent disciplinary panel had upheld an agreement between the league and Cardiff over fee caps. As part of the restriction, Cardiff could not pay transfer or loan fees for the January transfer window and the same restriction applies in the current summer window.
The EFL said the penalty was for Cardiff, who triggered the EFL’s 30-day rule when they were late making the first payment to Nantes for Sala’s transfer, as it was ordered after a lengthy legal process involving FIFA, CAS and Switzerland. Federal Tribunal.
The length of the sanction was reduced from three transfer windows to two after the appeal.