With their characteristic lack of clarity, FIFA announced yesterday that Cardiff City should pay Nantes the full amount of the scheduled first contribution (around £5.3 million) towards the £15 million transfer fee they paid for the late Emiliano Sala in January.
The Argentinian striker, and pilot David Ibbotson, died when the plane they were returning to Cardiff in from Nantes crashed into the English Channel in treacherous conditions on the night of 21 January thereby triggering a dispute between the two clubs as to exactly whose player he was at the time of his death.
A statement issued by FIFA yesterday said “
“Cardiff City FC must pay FC Nantes the sum of 6m euros, corresponding to the first instalment due in accordance with the transfer agreement concluded between the parties on 19 January 2019 for the transfer of the late Emiliano Sala from FC Nantes to Cardiff City FC.
“The sum of 6m euros corresponds to the first instalment currently due in accordance with the contract. For confidentiality reasons, we cannot comment at this stage on potential future instalments or other conditions of the transfer agreement.”
On the face of it therefore, it would appear that City will be paying the French club the full amount for the player, but the last sentence of the statement does raise doubts as to whether this is the case or not.
Little wonder then that City responded with a statement of their own which read;-
“Cardiff City FC acknowledges the decision announced today by Fifa’s players status committee regarding the transfer of Emiliano Sala. We will be seeking further clarification from Fifa on the exact meaning of their statement in order to make an informed decision on our next steps,”
Yesterday’s news offers plenty of opportunity for speculation and allegation, but my policy on here with regard to this matter has always been to try to just report things factually until we reach something which looks like an end to the matter. We are still a long way short of that it seems and so I’ll leave it at that except for expressing a hope that Emiliano’s family, who have had such a torrid time of it over the past eight months or so, are not kept waiting too much longer for the truth.
Good afternoon Paul – Thanks for the update. For many months now I have been waiting for the answer to the question “when is a deal not a deal”? Well it seems as though the football authorities believe that the City had made a deal with Nantes and as such are obliged to fulfil the financial terms of that deal even if some of the paperwork had not been concluded. And with all of the euphoria that accompanied Emiliano’s arrival at the CCS, and his announcement as a City player, it is not hard to imagine why that decision was arrived at. So money must change hands, but will it ultimately be for the full amount?
But as you point out, the final sentence of the ruling leaves some doubt as to the City’s obligation for the full transfer fee. I well understand the City seeking clarification on that score. Semantics apart, I desperately hope that we do the right thing for the family’s sake and acknowledge our obligation following the ruling for the 6 million euros, at the same time as ascertaining the situation for future payments.
As FIFA have clearly ruled that Emiliano was a City player at the time of his death, regardless of doubtful paperwork, then how does that decision affect any claim that the City may make with our Insurers? He either was, or was not, a Cardiff City footballer, and from yesterday’s decision, it would appear that he was. So, we may well have a strong argument to pursue a claim. More work for lawyers.
And what about the McKays? I’ll best keep my thoughts to myself.
We showed the world that Sala was a Cardiff player and therefore whether technicality or not the transfer deal was done. We must pay the money and claim back from insurance. This can only be done on the understanding that should there be a problem with the flight back and it is proved to be someone else then that must be followed through by the insurance company.
Whether he had to resign a contract is irrelevant we paraded Sala as our man and he and his family and Nantes all knew he had signed. Let’s stop this with immediate effect and pay that money and hand the problem to the insurance company and,ets get on with the football
Thanks both for your replies. I see City have now appealed FIFA’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport;-
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49904028
I must say, based on the evidence available to us at the moment, it seems hard to see how such an appeal could succeed, but we’ll have to wait and see.