KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: The dispute between Cardiff City and Nantes over the £15m fee for Emiliano Sala will have to be settled by FIFA after the Welsh and French club failed to agree on the way forward.

A FIFA spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we have received yesterday evening a claim from FC Nantes against Cardiff City in connection with the transfer of Emiliano Sala. We are looking into the matter and consequently we have no further comments at this stage”

The Argentinian centre-forward died before ever playing for Cardiff when the private plane bringing him to South Wales crashed into the English Channel off Guernsey. His body was recovered from the wreckage but a search is still under way for the body of the pilot, David Ibbotson.

A preliminary report from the British Air Accident Investigation Branch has suggested Ibbotson may not have been legally licensed to fly paying passengers. In that case Cardiff’s insurance policy for the player may be null and void.

This uncertainty has prompted Cardiff to freeze a scheduled first instalment of the £15m fee despite pressure from Nantes who owe half of the fee to the player’s previous club, Bordeaux.

Rules and regulations

The accident report has said the Piper Malibu aircraft was not licensed for commercial use. Ibbotson had a right to fly the player on a private basis but he would have needed to pay at least half the operating costs of the flight.

Aviation rules also state that Ibbotson needed another reason for the flight apart from carrying Sala. No other reason is known.

The flight was commissioned by Mark McKay, son of well-known agent Willie McKay. The latter cannot run the company because he was made bankrupt three years ago. However the 59-year-old was responsible for arranging the ill-fated flight.

Cardiff have stated that Sala’s family will be paid up to £600,000 compensation but Nantes may have to go on waiting. This is because the McKays were acting only for the French club, not for Cardiff. They are due 10pc of the fee.

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