Nantes lodge complaint with FIFA over Sala transfer

Joe Williams

Nantes have lodged a complaint with FIFA over Cardiff’s refusal to pay the first instalment of the £15million transfer fee for Emiliano Sala, world football’s governing body has confirmed.

The 28-year-old Argentine striker died in a plane crash in the English Channel on January 21, two days after the Premier League club had made him their record signing.

Nantes have demanded payment as agreed in the contract while Cardiff have said they want to wait for the investigation into the crash to be completed.

Nantes’ lawyers wrote to the Welsh club on February 5 asking for the first of three annual payments to be paid within 10 working days, a deadline that was then extended last week until February 26.

Having received no payment, however, the French side have carried out their threat to take the matter to FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber.

In a statement, a FIFA spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we have received yesterday evening a claim from FC Nantes against Cardiff City in connection with the transfer of Emiliano Sala. We are looking into the matter and consequently we have no further comments at this stage.”