Monday, March 30, 2026 - A French court has dismissed a €122 million compensation claim filed by Cardiff City in a legal dispute with FC Nantes over the 2019 death of Emiliano Sala.
The Welsh club had taken the case to a commercial court in
Nantes in 2023, seeking damages for loss of income and other financial impacts
following Sala’s death.
In its ruling, the court also ordered Cardiff to pay
€300,000 in moral damages to Nantes.
Sala, 28, died when the light aircraft carrying him to the
Welsh capital crashed in the English Channel on January 21, 2019, just two days
after completing his transfer. The pilot, David Ibbotson, also died in the
crash.
Following an internal analysis, Cardiff had estimated its
losses at €122 million. Since Sala’s death, the club has been relegated from
the Premier League and now competes in the third tier of English football.
Cardiff’s lawyer, Celine Jones, said the legal action was
intended to uncover the full truth and honour Sala’s memory.
“Today, we bitterly observe that the principles of
transparency, integrity, and safety in professional football have not prevailed
in this decision,” she said.
Nantes welcomed the verdict, with their lawyer Jerome
Marsaudon stating that the club was not responsible for the incident.
“We are pleased the court listened to us and confirmed this
in clear terms,” he said.
Cardiff had argued that Nantes, through intermediary agent
Willie McKay, organised the private flight. However, earlier rulings had
already clarified aspects of the transfer.
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