The long-running and emotionally charged legal dispute between Cardiff City and FC Nantes over the tragic transfer of Emiliano Sala has hit another delay, with a High Court judge adjourning the case until next year.
The complex trial, which was scheduled to begin this week, has been postponed to 2023 to allow both clubs adequate time to prepare their arguments in a case that centres on a £15 million fee and a devastating loss of life.
A Transfer Mired in Tragedy
The dispute stems from Cardiff City's record signing of Argentine striker Emiliano Sala from French club Nantes in January 2019. The deal was agreed for a fee of £15 million, making Sala the Bluebirds' most expensive acquisition.
Tragically, the 28-year-old forward never got to play for his new club. The Piper Malibu aircraft carrying Sala from Nantes to Cardiff crashed into the English Channel on the night of January 21, 2019, killing both Sala and the pilot, David Ibbotson.
The Heart of the Legal Dispute
Following the accident, Cardiff City refused to pay the first instalment of the transfer fee to Nantes, which sparked the initial legal proceedings. The Welsh club argued that the transfer agreement was not legally binding as certain conditions had not been met, most notably that FIFA had not yet received the international transfer certificate (ITC).
FC Nantes vehemently disputes this claim, maintaining that the transfer was complete and the fee is owed. The case has already seen rulings from FIFA's dispute resolution chamber and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which both found in favour of the French club and ordered Cardiff to pay the fee.
A Lengthy Judicial Process
Cardiff City's subsequent appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal delayed the payment, and the club has now launched a fresh challenge in the English commercial court. They are seeking damages from Nantes, claiming the French club bears responsibility as they arranged the fatal flight.
This latest adjournment adds another chapter to a legal saga that has spanned over four years, prolonging the resolution of a case that sits at the difficult intersection of contract law and profound human tragedy.
