Cardiff City lose £104million compensation case over Emiliano Sala death

Callum Vurley
Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:12:06 +0000

A French commercial court has rejected Cardiff City's bid to secure more than £100 million in compensation from FC Nantes following the tragic death of Emiliano Sala.

The ruling, delivered in Nantes on Monday, concluded that the French club bore no responsibility for the fatal flight that claimed the Argentine striker's life in January 2019.

Cardiff had sought approximately €120 million (£104m) in damages, arguing that Sala's presence could have preserved their Premier League status.

The court dismissed these assertions, describing Cardiff's demands as "extravagant claims" that had already been addressed by other tribunals.

The Welsh club has now been ordered to pay roughly £400,000 to Nantes, covering both legal costs and compensation for moral damage suffered by the French side.

This financial penalty must be settled immediately, irrespective of any subsequent appeal Cardiff may choose to pursue.

The court further determined that Cardiff had not sustained reputational harm as a consequence of the tragedy.

Nantes, according to the judges, was the party that endured genuine moral injury throughout this protracted legal dispute.

The verdict marks another setback for the Bluebirds, who have spent more than seven years pursuing financial redress through various legal channels.

The 28-year-old forward and pilot David Ibbotson perished when their Piper Malibu aircraft plunged into the English Channel on the evening of 21 January 2019.

Sala had been travelling to complete his club-record £15 million move from Nantes to Cardiff, who were competing in English football's top flight at the time.

The transfer represented a significant investment for the Welsh outfit under manager Neil Warnock.

Cardiff suffered relegation at the conclusion of that emotionally charged campaign and have since descended further, dropping into League One last summer.

The legal battle between the two clubs has now stretched beyond seven years since the fatal crash.

Cardiff responded to the judgment with evident disappointment, stating they "deeply regret that the court did not recognise FC Nantes' liability in this tragedy."

The club declared it had pursued proceedings to ensure "the full truth of this case could come to light, in respect of Emiliano Sala's memory."

Cardiff urged football's governing bodies to strengthen safety protocols and ethical standards in player management, warning that "such a tragedy can never happen again."

Sala's mother, Mercedes Taffarel, attended the hearing alongside Cardiff representatives to witness the verdict.

Capital Law, acting for the club, indicated they would require time to consider whether to lodge an appeal.