Cardiff City FC calls for probe into Alderney flight crash...

Cardiff City FC calls for probe into Alderney flight crash

According to a documentation provided to French prosecutors by Cardiff City FC, there is proof of “wrongdoing” in

the transfer of a player who died when his jet crashed in the sea close to Alderney.

In January 2019, the Piper Malibu plane carrying former Nantes players Emiliano Sala and David Ibbotson from

France to Wales crashed close to Les Casquets, killing both men.

Just about 21:00 on January 21, 2019, the plane lost contact near Les Casquets. Two weeks later, it was discovered

laying on the seabed north of Alderney.

Pictured: Emiliano Sala and David Ibbotson died on 21 January 2019.

Sala’s body was recovered from the wreckage but Mr Ibbotson’s was never found.

An interim report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch identified a carbon monoxide leak as a potential factor

after a post-mortem examination revealed the footballer had been exposed to a “potentially fatal”

level of the gas prior to his death.

The AAIB confirmed the final report should be out by the end of March.

At the time of the crash, Sala was in the process of moving from FC Nantes to Cardiff City, where he had been signed

for £15million.

Pictured: The Piper Malibu aircraft was found lying on the seabed north of Alderney.

Although the 28-year-old Argentinian footballer never made it to his new football team, Nantes demanded

payment for the transfer – something Cardiff refused.

According to the Bluebirds, the contract that Sala had signed was not binding, leading Nantes to put in a complaint to FIFA.

In October 2019, the governing body concluded that Cardiff must pay Nantes €6m – the first instalment of

the deal signed on 19 January.

Cardiff challenged the ruling through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, and the final decision is

not expected before June.

Meanwhile, Cardiff has contacted the Parquet de Nantes calling for “a full investigation of the facts leading up to the

tragedy”.

Pictured: Cardiff City has contacted the Parquet de Nantes. (Google Maps)

This was necessary, according to a club spokesperson, “not only to fully understand what led to the downing of the

Piper PA-46 Malibu plane, but to answer the wider questions that have been highlighted in this case, specifically

related to the use of illegal flights in the football industry and the role of intermediaries in player transfers and

more.”

According to the spokesperson, “we believe that our investigation has shown enough evidence of wrongdoing that the

French authorities should investigate those responsible for arranging the transfer on behalf of FC Nantes and for

arranging the doomed flight.”

In order to support their efforts, we have so forwarded information to the Parquet de Nantes. We are still dedicated

to obtaining the complete facts and upholding and adhering to any final decision on our financial liability in the

transfer.”