Paul Abbandonato's Wales Online piece this morning claims to lift the lid on the dispute.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/...court-23468688

Not sure it adds much to the previously discussed hints, snippets and informed speculation about the basis of the case. It is also confusingly written in places and light on analysis.

However, the key points:

1. Cardiff claim the Sala contract was not completed before his death because (although registered by the FAW) there was an outstanding clause to resolve about the signing on fee, and the transfer had not been registered with the EPL.

If Abbandonato is right the EPL registration formed part of the transfer and was not something Cardiff needed to do after the transfer. That seems odd to me but maybe right. Emiliano Sala was due to sign amended/corrected/compliant forms on this return to Cardiff.

2. Cardiff claim that at the time of his death Sala was (under French contract law) still a Nantes player - his Nantes contract had not at that point been terminated.

3. Abbandonato suggests (but doesn't provide corroboration) that Cardiff City's insurers also believe that Emiliano Sala was a Nantes player at the time of his death and he was not covered by the club's policy.

4. Cardiff regard the announcement of Sala's signing with all the photos and press release as a publicity event that is not relevant to the contract status at the time.

5. Abbandonato says (based on 'club sources') that Cardiff asked CAS to adjudicate on whether Nantes was a party to organising the fatal flight (through Willie and Mark McKays?) and has some legal and financial liability as a result.

6. If Cardiff lose the CAS case they are likely to take civil action against Nantes - suing them (in the French courts?) for financial losses on the transfer (fees and legal costs) and also for loss of income from the club's relegation from the EPL - making the impossible to prove claim that Sala would or might have kept us up. (Echoes of Boro and Wycombe against Derby). If Cardiff win they will let it rest.

Cardiff have employed 16 lawyers on the case; Nantes 18.