Sala case

Taken from the trust email:

EMILIANO SALA LEGAL CASE: THE LATEST

Trust Chair Keith Morgan attended an online meeting today with the Cardiff City FC lawyer dealing with the case. The meeting was also attended by various members of the media, both local and national.

This is Keith's report on that briefing.

The court hearing will take place in the Nantes Commercial Court at 5pm local time on Monday, December 8th with an estimated hearing time of 2 to 3 hours.

The hearing is open to the public so likely to be attended and reported on by the media.

A French judge will give an initial summary of the matter based on all the documents submitted by both sides which he has fully reviewed. Then there will be the chance for lawyers on both to present their verbal case as to why he should rule in their favour.

He has to consider two assertions. Firstly, liability. Is FC Nantes liable for the financial loss to Cardiff City FC caused by the actions of their agent Willie McKay and, secondly, what quantum of loss are they liable for the Cardiff City FC claim(It is for €120.2m)?

The judge is unlikely to finally give his formal verdict until early Spring 2026.


..

At least the end is in sight.

the whole thing from start to a finish in sight! is too tragic

If we get back the asking price, we'll be doing well. Can't see anyone awarding anything for what might have happened.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tforturton

If we get back the asking price, we'll be doing well. Can't see anyone awarding anything for what might have happened.

---

I guess CCFC are asking for losses of future earnings if they had stayed up. That is a hard one to judge as we would have to prove on the balance of probabilities Sala would have made enough difference for us to avoid relegation.

Obviously we have to win the case first before wondering about compensation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NinianKnight

I guess CCFC are asking for losses of future earnings if they had stayed up. That is a hard one to judge as we would have to prove on the balance of probabilities Sala would have made enough difference for us to avoid relegation.

Obviously we have to win the case first before wondering about compensation.

---

that's a lot of whataboutism tho. pure speculation from CcFc

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NinianKnight

I guess CCFC are asking for losses of future earnings if they had stayed up. That is a hard one to judge as we would have to prove on the balance of probabilities Sala would have made enough difference for us to avoid relegation.

Obviously we have to win the case first before wondering about compensation.

---

The Trust have said in the past that the Cardiff City claim is for the value of the transfer fee (and associated costs) and for the loss of income resulting from Premier League relegation.

As I understand it the numbers were produced by 'expert' forensic accountants but how they are able to estimate the probable impact of Emiliano Sala on the league table (in the first and maybe successive seasons) is a mystery to me.

It must be based on 'balance of probability', and translating his record in other leagues to his likely impact for Cardiff in the Premier League, and looking at churning the data to provide a 'probable' ('possible') league table in which Sala made a full impact.

It is educated guesswork - but those seem to be the rules.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ToTaL ITK

that's a lot of whataboutism tho. pure speculation from CcFc

---

But a claim that can be made hence a judge considering it

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trigger

The court hearing will take place in the Nantes Commercial Court at 5pm local time on Monday, December 8th with an estimated hearing time of 2 to 3 hours.

---

Is the judge a FC Nantes supporter?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WJ99mobile

But a claim that can be made hence a judge considering it

---

how often do those claims go in your/our favour. just sayin'

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wales-Bales

Is the judge a FC Nantes supporter?

---

He's not a City supporter.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jon1959

The Trust have said in the past that the Cardiff City claim is for the value of the transfer fee (and associated costs) and for the loss of income resulting from Premier League relegation.

As I understand it the numbers were produced by 'expert' forensic accountants but how they are able to estimate the probable impact of Emiliano Sala on the league table (in the first and maybe successive seasons) is a mystery to me.

It must be based on 'balance of probability', and translating his record in other leagues to his likely impact for Cardiff in the Premier League, and looking at churning the data to provide a 'probable' ('possible') league table in which Sala made a full impact.

It is educated guesswork - but those seem to be the rules.

---

It probably is within the rules to submit an 'expert' estimate. As it is a civil case it all comes down to the Judge and how he sees it.

Let's hope he is a Stade Rennais F.C. fan (apparently they don't like Nantes)
:hehe:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ToTaL ITK

that's a lot of whataboutism tho. pure speculation from CcFc

---

That generally is the case in Civil cases. Even divorces rely on what about's like the value of property and pensions etc.

It will come down to how much weight the Judge attaches to forensic accountants evidence

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ToTaL ITK

that's a lot of whataboutism tho. pure speculation from CcFc

---

lot of speculation on here about the workings of the French legal system

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wales-Bales

Is the judge a FC Nantes supporter?

---

The FC Nantes fans that I know just want Kita in jail…. asap.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by G rangetown Blue

The FC Nantes fans that I know just want Kita in jail…. asap.

---

Amazing how well connected people are these days.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rjk

lot of speculation on here about the workings of the French legal system

---

The French legal system is similar to the one in the UK. In civil cases the court works on the balance of probabilities and each side is allowed expert witnesses before a judge.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NYCBlue

He's not a City supporter.

---

I remember a bloke that looked like him sharing an African roll up near the old Grange End

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NinianKnight

The French legal system is similar to the one in the UK. In civil cases the court works on the balance of probabilities and each side is allowed expert witnesses before a judge.

---

There are significant differences between the Civil Law system in France, which was originally based on Napoleonic Code, and English Civil Law. The former is more inquisitorial with the judges being involved in investigating and the latter being more adversarial.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NinianKnight

Amazing how well connected people are these days.

---

:hehe:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie

There are significant differences between the Civil Law system in France, which was originally based on Napoleonic Code, and English Civil Law. The former is more inquisitorial with the judges being involved in investigating and the latter being more adversarial.

---

But they both work on the balance of probabilities which is the most important thing.

I have taken part in Civil court proceedings on several occasions and I can assure you the Judge in very case was inquisitorial and investigative on the evidence before him. True there is amount of adversarial conflict but generally that happens under cross examination. I don't know if that happens in France but it would be odd if it didn't.

As said the two systems while not being exact copies of each other are very similar.

Club statement just released:

https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news...-court-hearing

Tomorrow, Nantes’ commercial court will finally hear the substance of Cardiff City Football Club’s case against FC Nantes. We want FC Nantes to be held accountable for the faults committed by Willie McKay, FC Nantes’ true agent.

This tragedy, which began nearly seven years ago, cost Emiliano Sala his life. It is a tragedy that could and should have been avoided, had the people involved in the transfer on FC Nantes’ side not relied on the services of a banned agent, who went on to organise illegal flights to get the deal done.

On the eve of the hearing, however, there is hope. The hearing marks another step towards uncovering the truth and establishing more accountability in football.

This case isn’t about harming football: it’s about protecting its integrity. This is about ensuring higher standards across our sport, especially surrounding transfers.

Because Emiliano Sala deserved better. Because football deserves better.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NinianKnight

But they both work on the balance of probabilities which is the most important thing.

I have taken part in Civil court proceedings on several occasions and I can assure you the Judge in very case was inquisitorial and investigative on the evidence before him. True there is amount of adversarial conflict but generally that happens under cross examination. I don't know if that happens in France but it would be odd if it didn't.

As said the two systems while not being exact copies of each other are very similar.

---

Judges in the English system don't investigate, as such.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jon1959

Club statement just released:

https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news...-court-hearing

Tomorrow, Nantes’ commercial court will finally hear the substance of Cardiff City Football Club’s case against FC Nantes. We want FC Nantes to be held accountable for the faults committed by Willie McKay, FC Nantes’ true agent.

This tragedy, which began nearly seven years ago, cost Emiliano Sala his life. It is a tragedy that could and should have been avoided, had the people involved in the transfer on FC Nantes’ side not relied on the services of a banned agent, who went on to organise illegal flights to get the deal done.

On the eve of the hearing, however, there is hope. The hearing marks another step towards uncovering the truth and establishing more accountability in football.

This case isn’t about harming football: it’s about protecting its integrity. This is about ensuring higher standards across our sport, especially surrounding transfers.

Because Emiliano Sala deserved better. Because football deserves better.

---

Embarrassing statement.

Pretending to care about justice for sala when just want the money back

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by G rangetown Blue

The FC Nantes fans that I know just want Kita in jail…. asap.

---

Are you serious?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TheBirchgrovePub

Embarrassing statement.

Pretending to care about justice for sala when just want the money back

---

Genuine question - why can't it be both? I can't conceive of any scenario where an organisation wouldn't care about both, especially given the specific circumstances of Sala's death.