FC Nantes: Cardiff ordered by FIFA to pay the full transfer fee for Emiliano Sala

"Today, FIFA ordered Cardiff City FC (Sky Bet Championship) to pay the 2^nd and 3^rd instalments of the transfer fee for Emiliano Sala to FC Nantes (Ligue 1 Uber Eats) as expected," said the Welsh club on 30/06/2023.

The transfer fee, which had been set at €17m (excluding bonuses), provided for three separate payments: €6m within five days of the player registering with Cardiff, €6m on 01/01/2020 and €5m on 01/01/2021. The Welsh club refused to pay the latter two instalments, after having paid the first in January 2023 according to the British press. The total amount that Cardiff will pay to the French club comes with a 5% interest rate.

Argentine striker Emiliano Sala was transferred from FC Nantes to Cardiff City FC, then in the Premier League, on 19/01/2019, two days before the plane carrying him from France to Wales crashed. Cardiff is questioning FC Nantes' responsibility for the conditions of this tragic journey.

"It would have been fairer if the requirement to pay FC Nantes had been deferred until the conclusion of the French police investigations" (Cardiff City FC)

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