• Players, fans and officials take part in a minute of silence in tribute to Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson prior to the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Bournemouth. Getty
    Players, fans and officials take part in a minute of silence in tribute to Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson prior to the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Bournemouth. Getty
  • Cardiff City's Bobby Reid celebrates scoring their first goal by displaying a shirt paying tribute to Sala. Reuters
    Cardiff City's Bobby Reid celebrates scoring their first goal by displaying a shirt paying tribute to Sala. Reuters
  • There were huge amount of tributes left to Sala outside Cardiff's stadium. Action Images via Reuters
    There were huge amount of tributes left to Sala outside Cardiff's stadium. Action Images via Reuters
  • Fans pay their respects to Sala before the game against Bournemouth. Getty
    Fans pay their respects to Sala before the game against Bournemouth. Getty
  • Cardiff's players line up before the game against Bournemouth. Action Images via Reuters
    Cardiff's players line up before the game against Bournemouth. Action Images via Reuters
  • Cardiff's players were keen to acknowledge Sala after they scored against Bournemouth. Reuters
    Cardiff's players were keen to acknowledge Sala after they scored against Bournemouth. Reuters
  • Cardiff's players and fans during the minute's silence paying tribute to Sala and pilot bbotson before the match. Action Images via Reuters
    Cardiff's players and fans during the minute's silence paying tribute to Sala and pilot bbotson before the match. Action Images via Reuters
  • A banner paying tribute to Sala. PA via AP
    A banner paying tribute to Sala. PA via AP
  • A Cardiff City fan holds up a scarf paying tribute to Sala during the match. Reuters
    A Cardiff City fan holds up a scarf paying tribute to Sala during the match. Reuters
  • An Argentina flag waves in the Cardiff crowd to pay homage to Sala. Action Images via Reuters
    An Argentina flag waves in the Cardiff crowd to pay homage to Sala. Action Images via Reuters
  • Cardiff manager Neil Warnock during the minute's silence paying tribute to Sala before the match. Reuters
    Cardiff manager Neil Warnock during the minute's silence paying tribute to Sala before the match. Reuters
  • Cardiff mascot Bartley Bluebird displays a banner paying tribute to Sala during the match. Action Images via Reuters
    Cardiff mascot Bartley Bluebird displays a banner paying tribute to Sala during the match. Action Images via Reuters

Football

Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock to attend Emiliano Sala's funeral in Argentina

Service taking place in Progeso on Saturday with Cardiff's chief executive Ken Choo also attending

Press Association

February 14, 2019

  • English
  • Arabic

Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock and chief executive Ken Choo will attend Emiliano Sala's funeral in Argentina on Saturday.

The 28-year-old had signed for Cardiff in a club-record £15 million (Dh72.1m) move from Nantes, but was killed when the private plane carrying him crashed in the English Channel near Alderney on January 21.

Sala's body was recovered from the wreckage last Thursday. Pilot David Ibbotson remains missing, with funds being raised to continue the search, to which Cardiff owner Vincent Tan has made a personal donation of £50,000.

A club spokesman confirmed Warnock and Choo will be part of a Cardiff delegation attending the funeral in the town of Progreso in the Argentinian province of Santa Fe.

Cardiff do not have a game this weekend as they are out of the FA Cup, and the club delegation is expected to be back in south Wales on Sunday or Monday.

Sala's body will be repatriated to Argentina on Friday ahead of a wake at boyhood club San Martin de Progreso the following day.

San Martin de Progreso posted an emotional tribute on Facebook, saying: "We are waiting for you...like the first day you left but this time to stay with us forever.

"You went and you are an example for everyone. Eternally in our hearts."

Ouest France have reported that Sala's former club Nantes will be represented at the funeral by central defender Nicolas Pallois and general secretary Loic Morin.

Pallois, a close friend of Sala, will miss Nantes' Ligue 1 game at Monaco on Saturday to attend the funeral.

Cardiff have pledged to continue working with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch to establish how the single-engine Piper Malibu aircraft came down in the English Channel on June 21.

In a statement released last week, Tan said: "Cardiff City will continue to work with the AAIB and investigators to find out how the crash happened and to assist Emiliano's family.

"We have offered to them to arrange to take Emiliano back to rest with his family in Argentina.

"Even though he will be there his soul will always be in our hearts. We feel a tremendous loss but the biggest loss is borne by Sala's family. "