Cardiff face three-window transfer ban if they fail to pay £5.3m Emiliano Sala fee to Nantes

CARDIFF will be hit with a THREE-WINDOW transfer ban if they do not pay French club Nantes the first instalment of £5.3million for tragic Emiliano Sala.

The Welsh club have also been told to stump up a further £260,000 in interest after not paying the initial instalment back in January.

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The 28-year-old Argentinian striker was killed in a plane crash on January 21 after completing his £20m move to the Bluebirds.

Fifa has completed its investigation and told Cardiff to pay six million euros (£5.3m).

The transfer could eventually cost City £15m as the deal was made up of an initial £15m, with an etra £5m in bonuses and add-ons.

Further instalments are due on January 2020 and January 2021 but Fifa's demand relates only to the first instalment.

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The Bluebirds will lodge an appeal with the Court of Arbitration.

Fifa's players' status committee (PSC) rejected Cardiff's arguments on a number of grounds.

Cardiff had refused to pay any fee, denying the paperwork had been finalised on the deal and he was not registered as a Premier League player.

A report published by the PSC revealed the Welsh club had sought to delay Fifa's judgment until possible civil and criminal proceedings.

They also wanted an Air Accident Investigation Bureau investigation to be concluded.

Sala was travelling back from France when his plane went down near the Channel Islands.

TRAGIC FLIGHT

Cardiff also claim Nantes will be "liable"; for damages to them over the fatal flight, which was booked by Willie McKay and his son Mark, who was employed by the French club, to find a buyer for the player.

McKay has denied any involvement in the selection of the plane or pilot, Dave Ibbotson, whose body was never recovered.

The committee report says: "The members of the Bureau decided not to take into account any arguments brought forward by Cardiff in front of Fifa in relation to the circumstances surrounding the tragic passing of the player."

The PSC reject the Bluebirds' claim that Nantes had not terminated their contract with the Argentine.

The report said: "The player's transfer from Nantes to Cardiff has to be considered as validly concluded between the parties, hence the player was a player of Cardiff.

"The Bureau finds it regrettable that the dispute could not be settled amicably."

Cardiff have not commented on the decision but indicated they will appeal.