Nantes not liable For Emiliano Sala's death.

[monmouth]

The 400k penalty is payable immediately regardless of any appeal
An appeal to the Grand Court in Nantes is essentially a retrial rather than a reexamination of the first one

It would take roughly two years to be heard and would be a brand new trial in its entirety

So there’s nothing to be gained by an appeal in terms of delaying liability, just an unlikely roll of the dice hoping for a different outcome to arguments that have failed, with the only certainty of more costs at the end of it?

He’ll still probably do it.

 

[Herbie]

Cardiff City’s Claim	Court’s Finding (Based on Evidence)
1. Nantes used Willie McKay to arrange Sala’s travel.	False. Nantes only authorised Mark McKay for transfer negotiations. Willie McKay acted independently and was not instructed by Nantes.
2. Because McKay arranged the flight, Nantes is responsible for the fatal journey.	Rejected. Evidence showed McKay did not arrange the flight. He merely contacted Henderson as a personal favour.
3. Henderson was acting on behalf of McKay, and therefore indirectly for Nantes.	False. Henderson acted only on McKay’s personal request, not for Nantes. No evidence linked Nantes to the travel arrangements.
4. Cardiff suffered €100m+ in damages due to Sala’s death (relegation, lost revenue, reputational harm).	Dismissed as “extravagant.” The court ruled these losses were speculative and not legally attributable to Nantes.
5. Nantes should compensate Cardiff for the transfer fee and additional losses.	Rejected. CAS, Swiss Supreme Court, and now the French court all confirmed Nantes fulfilled its contractual obligations.
6. The flight was arranged by agents connected to Nantes.	Incorrect. The flight was arranged by David Henderson, who was later criminally convicted. He acted on Willie McKay’s request, not Nantes’.
7. Nantes bore responsibility for ensuring Sala’s safe travel.	Not supported. Travel arrangements were not part of Nantes’ contractual duties. Sala was free to choose his own travel.
8. Nantes should have prevented Sala from taking the flight.	No legal basis. Sala was an adult, not under club supervision, and the flight was arranged privately.
9. Cardiff should not have to pay the transfer fee.	Overruled. CAS and the Swiss Supreme Court already ruled the fee was valid and payable. The French court reaffirmed this.
10. Nantes acted negligently in the transfer process.	No evidence. All regulatory bodies found Nantes acted properly and transparently.

 

[Herbie]

Above is a summary of the reasons behind the decision. Essentially Nantes had no role or responsibility in arranging transport. McKay Junior was Nantes agent for the transfer only which he duly completed. McKay senior contacted Henderson to arrange transport. Nantes not involved. A selling club once transfer completed is not obliged to arrange transport and they had no involvement in doing so.

 

[Cinio Dydd Sul]

Above is a summary of the reasons behind the decision. Essentially Nantes had no role or responsibility in arranging transport. McKay Junior was Nantes agent for the transfer only which he duly completed. McKay senior contacted Henderson to arrange transport. Nantes not involved. A selling club once transfer completed is not obliged to arrange transport and they had no involvement in doing so.

I wonder what evidence cardiff thought they had that proved Nantes arranged the flight. This is the complete basis of the case.

 

[eteb]

The fact they claimed it cost them 100mil as his goals would have kept them up is hilarious. He didn't even average 1 in 2 in the French league ffs, he probably wouldn't have even scored five for them

 

[Pegojack]

It ought to be like clubs who appeal a red card and lose, if they appeal again and fail, UEFA ought to hit them with massive fines and a transfer embargo.

 

[Herbie]

I wonder what evidence cardiff thought they had that proved Nantes arranged the flight. This is the complete basis of the case.

They seem to have simply relied on arguing McKay was agent for the purposes of the transport and therefore knowledge imputed to Nantes. This was rejected. Further it was found McKay had no knowledge of the illegality in any event and so even if he was Nantes agent for transport ( which he was not) there was no knowledge of illegality that could be imputed to Nantes.

 

[J_B]

He was Cardiff's player and they should have organised his transport. That they failed to do so was stupid. At the very least they should have known what flight he was taking and approved it.

 

[CurtessECarr]

How many times are you allowed to appeal?
Out of pure decency for respect to Sala's mother they should drop this. She's gone through enough.
His poor Dad has already passed.

 

[eteb]

How many times are you allowed to appeal?
Out of pure decency for respect to Sala's mother they should drop this. She's gone through enough.
His poor Dad has already passed.

They won't though. Horrible scummy club and the whole world is now waking up to that fact if they hadn't already.

It's never their fault.

 

[AusinIsOurHero]

Absolutely ridiculous that it was allowed to go this far.

 

[Cinio Dydd Sul]

He was Cardiff's player and they should have organised his transport. That they failed to do so was stupid. At the very least they should have known what flight he was taking and approved it.

They did apparently offer him a flight, which he decided not to take up. They maybe should have been more forceful to ensure he took that flight with a proper airline instead of the cowboys who eventually ended up essentially killing him.