Emiliano Sala's father dies three months after footballer's fatal plane crash
Horacio Sala died after a heart attack having never got over his son's death, the mayor of his hometown in Argentina says.
Friday 26 April 2019 14:54, UK
The father of Emiliano Sala has died three months after the Premier League footballer was killed in a plane crash.
Horacio Sala, 58, suffered a fatal heart attack in Argentina, the mayor of his hometown Progreso said.
"2019 has been very hard on us," Julio Muller told local media. "I think Horacio couldn't get over what happened to Emi.
"Every news he heard about the investigation was really tough for him."
A plane carrying Emiliano Sala crashed on 21 January, just two days after he had completed a £15m move from French club Nantes to Cardiff City.
The Argentinian striker was travelling to the Welsh capital in a private jet with pilot David Ibbotson when it went down in the English Channel near Alderney.
Horacio Sala described his anguish after the wreckage was discovered, telling Argentinian television: "I cannot believe it. This is a dream. A bad dream. I am desperate."
The footballer's body was recovered on 7 February after a privately-funded search was launched, while Mr Ibbotson remains missing.
In a further tragedy, it has emerged that one of football star's best friends died last week in a car crash.
Unanswered questions remain over the death of the Cardiff City footballer
Sebastian Rabellino was a footballer for San Martin de Progeso, the club where Emiliano Sala started his career as a youth player.
Following Sala's death, Cardiff City and Nantes are locked in a legal battle over his £15m transfer fee after the Premier League club refused to pay the first £5m instalment.
It is understood Cardiff argue that Sala's contract had been rejected by the Premier League because it contravened signing-on fee rules and was therefore "null and void", Sky Sports News reported.
The club also claim that further contract clauses - proposed by Nantes - had not been met.
Meanwhile, Cardiff City have denied claims it failed to offer Sala suitable travel arrangements before his ill-fated flight to the UK.