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Senior Writer- • Joined ESPN in 2011
• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours
• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018
The dispute over Emiliano Sala's transfer fee will be adjudicated by FIFA after Cardiff City submitted their evidence on Monday.
Nantes called on FIFA to intervene after Cardiff City failed to make the first payment of the £15 million transfer fee for Sala, who died in a plane crash on Jan. 21 while travelling from France to Wales.
FIFA originally gave both clubs until April 3 to submit their evidence but this deadline was extended to April 15 after Cardiff wrote to Nantes with a view to sorting the matter out internally.
Sources have told ESPN that Nantes that were unwilling to meet Cardiff as they pursued the full payment of Sala's transfer fee and the matter will now be judged by FIFA.
"Cardiff City FC has today submitted its answer in response to the claim filed by FC Nantes on 26 February 2019," read a statement from the Premier League club. The first instalment of Sala's transfer fee was due on Feb. 20, but the deadline passed without Cardiff making the payment. Nantes referred the case to FIFA, calling on the governing body to intervene and sent in their side of the evidence in March.
Sources tell ESPN that Cardiff see the transfer as null and void as they believe certain criteria in the original contract were unfulfilled. Nantes, in turn, are adamant the transfer was complete and Sala was a Cardiff player when he died.