Cardiff Make Special Request To Premier League After Sala’s Body Found

The club wore them in last weekend’s 2-0 win over Bournemouth – when Sala was still missing.

The striker’s body was formally identified by the Dorset coroner on Thursday night, a day after it was recovered from underwater wreckage in the English Channel, and Cardiff are now planning another tribute to their £15million record signing.

Warnock expects Southampton and Cardiff players to wear black armbands too at St Mary’s on Saturday and a minute’s silence to be observed in honour of Sala, 28, before kick-off.

“You’ve seen tributes from all over the place, from little clubs in the fourth division to the top clubs,” Warnock said. “When something like this happens it brings all the football family together.

“It’s a loss to everyone in football. I know we’re the closest, but when you see the response from world-class players and the amount of money they were able to raise (for the recovery process) in the space of a few hours was amazing.”

The flight carrying Sala from Nantes to Cardiff following his transfer to the Premier League club two days earlier crashed into the sea near Alderney on January 21. Pilot Ibbotson remains missing.

“While everybody expects the worst when it happens, and I got a phone call last night, and it was strange,” Warnock said.

“It brings the family peace and offers them comfort – that’s what (Warnock’s wife) Sharon said from the start.”

Nantes and Cardiff are involved in a dispute over the Sala transfer, with the French club having demanded that the first £5.27m instalment be paid within the next week or so.

Cardiff have withheld the first scheduled payment until they have clarified the facts surrounding the documentation of the transfer.

“The least of my worries is the record signing, finance does not come into it from my point of view,” Warnock said.

“I couldn’t be more grateful to Ken (Choo, chief executive) and Mehmet (Dalman, chairman), they are keeping everything away from me.

“Off the field they are dealing with all that, and that’s the way to move forward. I’ve got enough on my plate dealing with the football on the field.”

Nantes have made a moving tribute to Sala after his body was recovered from the English Channel and formally identified.

The Ligue 1 side changed their official club website to only show a photo of Sala with the words ‘Noue ne t’oublierons jamais, Emi!’ which translates as “We will never forget you, Emi!”

Nantes also retired the number-nine shirt in Sala’s memory.

President Waldemar Kita told the club’s official website: “I do not have the words, it’s a tragedy. I’m devastated, Emiliano left his mark, which is why, like many fans, I want to honour him again by removing the number nine.”

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