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L’Equipe report

The Trust recently reported on the legal battles between Cardiff City and FC Nantes in the wake of the transfer of Emiliano Sala  five years ago this month.

Emiliano Sala tragically died after the light aircraft he was travelling in crashed on its way to Cardiff.

We wanted to make members aware that, according to the French media, Nantes is involved in another significant legal case in its own country (criminal rather than civil) and have been formally accused of using unauthorised players’ agents.

The renowned French newspaper, L’Equipe reported on the issue on November 24, 2023.

The translated report said that FC Nantes has been indicted due to its ongoing relationship with unauthorised agents, including Bakari Sanogo, in particular: “that the managers of the Nantes football club have had recourse on a recurring basis, at least since 2015, to the employment of unauthorised sports agents, by establishing sports agent contracts and player employment contracts under the cover of nominees, both in the context of player transfer negotiations and in the context of negotiations of player contracts.”

I understand that Sanogo had involvement in the Sala transfer, alongside Willie McKay and his son, Mark McKay.

Back in June there were arrests in France of Sanogo, another agent Joaquim Batica and the club president Waldemar Kita and his son, Franck as part of an investigation opened by the Rennes’ Specialised Interregional Court.

We’ll keep members posted when we hear more from across the Channel.

Keith Morgan

Chair

Trust chair Keith Morgan

Ever since the tragic events of nearly five years ago, Cardiff City has received (in my view, unfairly) criticism from a small group of supporters about the way they have pursued legal actions and not considered enough the moral issues of the impact of the tragedy on Emiliano’s family.

Perhaps those fans have forgotten or weren’t aware that club owner Vincent Tan made a very substantial contribution into a Trust fund for the family’s benefit shortly after the accident occurred.

In contrast, FC Nantes were also asked to make a contribution into the fund in honour of their former player but declined to do so.

I believe the club has acted honourably in relation to the Sala family.

Keith Morgan

Chair

Trust chair Keith Morgan

The Trust understands from senior sources at Cardiff City that the football club is suing Willie McKay, who was involved in the transfer of Emiliano Sala from FC Nantes.

Trust Chair Keith Morgan said: “I understand the legal action against Mr McKay is for the release of documents and data, which the club believes, will prove beyond doubt that he was the agent for the Sala transfer and strengthen their ongoing legal proceedings against Nantes.

“This is an important and significant move by the club in its court action against the French club.”

Keith Morgan. Trust Chair

Well, what a year it has been at Cardiff City both on and off the field.

A second year of struggle saw the Bluebirds narrowly escape relegation to League One, saved only by Reading’s points deduction.

The punishment by the EFL over the Emiliano Sala transfer fee meant once again that we were unable to buy new players. But the new manager Erol Bulut and the senior management team managed to bring in some excellent signings, including the return of Arron Ramsey and Greek internationals Dimitrios Goutas and Manolis Siopis.

This led to improved results and, hopefully, additional signings in the January window will strengthen the team significantly and lead to a push towards the Championship playoff places.

Off the field, the new Fans Advisory Board (FAB) is being set up at Cardiff City and is expected to hold its first meeting in February. The Trust has two representatives on FAB, vice-chair Mike Spear and myself.

As you will know the Trust has been pushing for far greater involvement in our football club for many, many years and new legislation from the UK Government is ensuring that this now happens.

The Trust played a key role in pushing the need for legislation through the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) and we’re very pleased that clubs by law now have to consult their fans.

I would also like to thank all those members who were able to help our foodbank collection earlier this month. More than 1,000 items of food were donated and the Cardiff Foodbank received over £400 in cash and online donations with the Trust also making a £100 contribution. In these really tough economic times, it was a brilliant effort. We’d once again like to thank Cardiff City, its staff and players for their superb support.

We do appreciate your support for the work of the Trust and anything you can do to encourage other fans to join us would be appreciated. Membership is from just £12 a year – less than four cups of coffee in the local Costa Coffee or Starbucks.

And when you’re next at the Cardiff City Stadium why not pop into our office near Gate 5 for a chat?

Wishing you and your families a happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Keith Morgan

Chair

Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust

Trust chair Keith Morgan

Following conversations with senior sources at Cardiff City FC, Trust chair Keith Morgan provides members with an update on the club’s legal claim against FC Nantes relating to the tragic death of Emiliano Sala.

Cardiff City lodged a significant legal claim in the Nantes courts immediately following a decision of the Swiss Federal Tribunal in Spring, 2023, that ruled a compensation claim was a separate matter from the earlier FIFA decision that Emiliano Sala was the club’s player.

The basis of the compensation claim is that, under French law, the actions of an agent appointed by Nantes are deemed to be those of FC Nantes, itself, and that those actions directly led to the tragic accident resulting in the death of our player.

The amount of the claim is both the full value of the transfer fee paid plus a compensation sum for the loss of Premier League status that in probability would not have occurred should Emiliano Sala have played for us and caused us to avoid relegation  (this has been assessed by professional independent third parties). The claim, in total, is a huge one which forensic accountants are valuing.

A procedural hearing was held in France in June at which Nantes were required to file their defence by the end of November- they did so on the last day.

A large element of their defence appears to be that they don’t recognise Willie McKay as their agent and instead dealt with a different company as agent (a “shell” company which lists its directors as Willie McKay’s son and wife and which at the time had no trading records filed at Companies House).

Reliable sources at Cardiff City have told me that the club has copious amounts of documents disproving Nantes defence.

The June hearing was reported in the French media at the time but appears to have been based on reports prepared by PR companies employed by Nantes.

The next stage in the legal action is that Cardiff City has until the end of January 2024, to respond to Nantes’ defence after which there will be a further procedural hearing to set court dates etc.

I understand that the eventual court hearing later in 2024 (if not settled out of court beforehand) will be before three judges who will be experienced business people rather than solicitors.

I hope that this brief update provides Trust members and the wider fan base with an accurate picture of the current situation in this matter.

Keith Morgan

Chair