MX23RW : Friday, January 31 19:18:13| >> :600:698714:698714:

Cardiff squad pay tribute to Emiliano Sala during training

Cardiff squad pay tribute to Emiliano Sala during training
© Reuters
The first anniversary of the 28-year-old striker's death was marked on Tuesday.

Cardiff manager Neil Harris has revealed how his players shared a training-ground moment of reflection this week to remember Emiliano Sala.

Tuesday marked the first anniversary of Sala's death, the Argentinian forward killed on January 21, 2019 when the plane carrying him from Nantes in France to his new club Cardiff crashed in the English Channel.

The footballer's body was recovered from the wreckage, but pilot David Ibbotson, from Crowle, North Lincolnshire, has still not been found.

"The players had a moment on the pitch on Tuesday morning to remember Emiliano," Harris said.

"What they should have done in that moment is reflect where they are standing, what they do for a living and how fortunate they are.

"It gives you reflection time to realise how lucky we are as a group."

Former Millwall boss Harris succeeded Neil Warnock as Cardiff manager in November and never knew Sala.

Harris, captain Sean Morrison and Sol Bamba were part of a club delegation that attended a service in memory of Sala and Ibbotson at St David's Cathedral in Cardiff city centre on Tuesday.

"It was very touching, a very nice service," Harris said.

"It was a fitting tribute to a man who plied his trade in our industry. Football comes together at moments like that.

"It was extremely sad for the group, staff and all the players.

"It was an opportunity for us to remember a young man and pilot who lost their lives and the families they left behind.

"It was important to represent the football club, the lad was signing for us.

"I look at it ultimately that he might have been here now. I might have been working with him.

"I didn't know him, but it was hugely important to be there as manager of the football club.

"The players also showed that mark of respect that they would have enjoyed working with him."

Fans left flowers, banners and shirts in memory of Sala at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the 28-year-old's death.

Sala was unveiled as a Cardiff player two days before the crash.

Cardiff, who were in the Premier League at the time, and Nantes have since been in dispute over fee payments.

The Welsh club have argued they were not liable for the full £15million transfer fee because Sala was not officially their player when he died.

FIFA ordered Cardiff to pay the first instalment of Sala's transfer fee – 6million euros (just under £5.2m) – at the end of September

Cardiff appealed against that ruling and it will go before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The final decision is not expected before June 2020.

body check tags ::

Emiliano Sala plane disappearance - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Emiliano Sala

Click here for more stories about Cardiff City

Share this article now:
New Instagram promo
A tribute to Emiliano Sala is shown on screen before Arsenal's game with Cardiff City on January 29, 2019
Read Next:
Tributes paid to Emiliano Sala on first anniversary of striker's death
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.

rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool24231056154170
2Manchester CityMan City24163565273851
3Leicester CityLeicester24153652242848
4Chelsea2412484132940
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd249783629734
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs249783832634
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2481063532334
8Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd248972523233
9Southampton2494113142-1131
10Arsenal2461263234-230
11Crystal Palace247982228-630
12Everton2486102835-730
13Burnley2493122838-1030
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2486102436-1230
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2467112734-725
16Aston Villa2474133145-1425
17West Ham UnitedWest Ham2465132740-1323
18Bournemouth2465132337-1423
19Watford2458112136-1523
20Norwich CityNorwich2445152447-2317

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!