Nantes are prepared to take their dispute with Cardiff City over the late Emiliano Sala's transfer fee to FIFA if the Premier League club doesn't pay the first installment of the Argentinian's £15-million fee by Wednesday, according to the Press Association.
The two parties could, however, forego FIFA and go straight to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, notes the Press Association, as the losing side is likely to be dissatisfied by FIFA's ruling.
Nantes reportedly threatened Cardiff with legal action Feb. 5 if the Welsh side didn't pay the first installment of the £15-million transfer fee within 10 days. Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman, however, said last week the club will only pay the amount if "contractually obliged." Cardiff is awaiting the results of the investigation into the plane crash that resulted in Sala's death, as it's unclear if the pilot, David Ibbotson, possessed the proper license to fly passengers commercially.
If it is discovered that Ibbotson wasn't qualified, Cardiff reportedly could launch a negligence claim against Nantes.
Sala and Ibbotson were reported missing after the plane carrying both men back to Wales from France crashed into the English Channel off the island of Alderney on Jan. 21. Sala, who had returned to Nantes to say goodbye to his former teammates after officially signing with Cardiff, was later recovered from the seafloor wreckage Feb. 6 following a privately funded search.
The striker's body was then returned to his native Argentina, and members of both Nantes and Cardiff, including Bluebirds manager Neil Warnock, attended his funeral Saturday.
Ibbotson, meanwhile, has yet to be found. A fundraiser by his family to commence their own private search has generated over £247,000 in 10 days.
