The protracted legal dispute between Welsh club Cardiff City and French club FC Nantes appears to be reaching a conclusion, as the Nantes Commercial Court on Monday dismissed Cardiff’s demands. Furthermore, the court has ordered Cardiff to pay €480,000 (£400,000) to FC Nantes to cover legal costs and compensate for moral damages.
Cardiff City reserves the right to appeal this ruling, but the obligation to make the payment remains in effect. Should the club choose to appeal, the legal proceedings could potentially extend for several more years. Reports suggest that Cardiff and its legal counsel will take time to deliberate on the verdict.
The tragic events date back to January 19, 2019, when Cardiff City announced the club-record signing of Argentine striker Emiliano Sala for £15 million, a strategic move aimed at bolstering their efforts to avoid relegation from the Premier League. Tragically, just two days later, Sala’s private plane crashed into the English Channel while en route from Nantes to Cardiff. Both Sala and the pilot were subsequently found deceased.
Following the accident, a contentious legal conflict emerged. Cardiff City accused FC Nantes of responsibility for the fatal incident, asserting that an intermediary allegedly enlisted by Nantes had organized the flight. It later came to light that the flight was unlicensed, although Nantes maintained that it was not directly responsible for the flight’s arrangement.
In total, Cardiff had sought a substantial €120 million (£104 million) in compensation from Nantes. This claim was based on projected lost revenues and other damages, stemming from their belief that Sala’s presence could have secured their Premier League status. The club is currently competing in League One, England’s third division. However, the French court’s decision mirrors previous rulings by FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), both of which also rejected Cardiff’s compensation claims.