LONDON • Footballer Emiliano Sala's family were left to grieve yesterday after British authorities formally identified the Argentinian's body as the one recovered from the submerged wreckage of a plane that went down in the English Channel more than two weeks ago.
"We can now begin to mourn our son and our brother," the 28-year-old Cardiff City striker's family said in a statement.
"We would like to thank you for all of your signs of affection and support in the most painful time of our life. To see everyone doing everything possible to join us in the search has been precious help to us."
The Premier League player's former French club, Nantes, said it was withdrawing the jersey with Sala's number 9 on it and all Ligue One and Two matches in France this weekend will be preceded by a minute of applause for him.
The light aircraft was carrying the £15 million (S$26.3 million) club-record signing from Nantes to Cardiff when it disappeared near the island of Guernsey, along with 59-year-old pilot David Ibbotson, whose body has not been found.
Sala's disappearance had sparked an outpouring of grief and a flood of cash to support a private hunt for the plane when the official search was initially called off on Jan 24.
Sala's body was first spotted by British rescuers using a remotely operated underwater vehicle on Sunday, close to where the plane vanished from radar on Jan 21.
Investigators recovered the body on Wednesday but said they were abandoning plans to lift the plane wreck out of the water because of bad weather. However, British police said that an investigation into the circumstances of his death was continuing.
"I am very sorry about this sad news. Many of us kept a glimmer of hope for you, Emiliano," Argentina legend Diego Maradona said on Instagram. "What sadness, this is the worst news. Rest in peace warrior," tweeted retired Argentinian football star Gabriel Batistuta.
Argentina President Mauricio Macri also offered his condolences to Sala's family, saying: "We are with you."
There was also an outpouring of grief from fellow players. Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan and Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain had been among the 4,829 people who contributed to a crowdfunding campaign which paved the way for the private search.
Your soul in my soul will shine forever, thus illuminating the time of my existence.
I love you.
ROMINA SALA, Emiliano Sala's sister, in a moving tribute to her brother posted on Instagram.
Gundogan tweeted "may he rest in peace", while Mbappe simply tweeted "RIP Emi". Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil tweeted there were "no words to describe how sad this is".
Sala's sister Romina, who confirmed her family would be adopting Nala, the player's beloved dog, took to Instagram, posting a moving tribute to her brother.
She wrote in Spanish: "Your soul in my soul will shine forever, thus illuminating the time of my existence. I love you."
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock yesterday said that he believed Sala would have thrived in the Premier League, saying: "He was a type of player that would score 10 or 15 for me at the top level every year. But, not just that, he would work hard as a team player.
"He was at the prime, I felt, and he knew he had things to prove."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
GOODBYE, BROTHER
Klopp cool on Mo's dry spell, Football News & Top Stories
Cardiff City captain Sol Bamba dedicated his goal and a 2-1 victory over Southampton to Emiliano Sala after an emotional match for the Welsh club. Saturday's fixtures were the first round of
'Victory and goal for Sala', says Cardiff captain Bamba
Nazri - Racism Is The Last Refuge Of A Scoundrel. BN secretary-general Nazri Abdul Aziz said his speech, where he said a non-Muslim should not be an attorney-general, was merely a reflection of grassroots sentiment.
I believe in The Lions: Yoshida | Sportstons
sportstons.com/soccer/i-believe-in-the-lions-yoshida/
• In 2002, he signed for Jurong FC and played under V. Sundram Moorthy, then player-coach for the Cobras. • Retired in 2002 and returned to Reysol, where he rose through the ranks from youth-team coach to technical director and then the head coach. While at Reysol, he helped to produce national players like Marseille right-back Hiroki Sakai.
PDF Why Trust Is Critical to Team Success - Center for Creative
Bayern reach German Cup final to keep double in sight
LONDON (REUTERS) - Raheem Sterling's hat-trick in Manchester City's 3-1 win over Watford lifted the champions four points clear at the top of the Premier League after Tottenham Hotspur's challenge
Man City surge clear through Sterling as Spurs suffer - Reuters
Napoli draw puts Juventus coronation on hold 08/04/2019 Oman Observer Milan: Napoli drew 1-1 with ten-man Genoa on Sunday to ensure that Juventus will have to wait another week to seal an eighth consecutive Serie A title.
Football: Napoli draw puts Juve coronation on hold, Football
MADRID (REUTERS) - Holders Real Madrid were sensationally knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday (March 5) after being thrashed 4-1 at home by an outstanding Ajax Amsterdam who overturned
Shell-shocked Real Madrid Knocked Out of Champions League by
Guardiola stays cool despite shock Man City defeat 23 December 2018, MVT 20:44 Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola arrives for the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on December 22, 2018.
Football: Guardiola stays cool despite shock Man City defeat
Liverpool powered back to the top of the Premier League as Xherdan Shaqiri inspired a 3-1 win over bitter rivals Manchester United, while Arsenal's 22-match unbeaten run was shattered by a shock 3
Liverpool back on top as Shaqiri sinks United, Arsenal's
On January 21, soccer player Emiliano Sala was traveling via a private plane between England and France when the aircraft suddenly disappeared over the English Channel. After 24 hours of searching and no sign of a plane or debris anywhere, the athlete was presumed dead.
Body found in wreckage of plane carrying soccer player Sala
Marcus Rashford Income, Houses,Cars, Luxurious Lifestyle and Net Worth 2019 Maybe you want to watch Cristiano Ronaldo - Transformation From 1 To 32 Years Old
Marcus Rashford Family, Parents, Wife, Son, Daughter
Edinson Cavani missed a stoppage-time penalty as Paris St Germain continued their stuttering end to the season with a 1-1 Ligue 1 draw at home to Nice, with Neymar notching his 50th goal for the club.
Football: Neymar hits half-century as PSG are held by Nice
Man City vs Liverpool: 5 Talking Points. Ad Man City just don`t look the side they were last year. Great finish from a player who is looking like he is enjoying his time at Liverpool, and
Liverpool just proved why the title is Man City's to lose
Shape up or ship out: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer warns his Manchester United squad they must be fit before pre-season or they will not go on tour. dailymail.co.uk - Joe Bernstein. Manchester United players have been given strict training programmes for their summer holidays — and been told to reach peak fitness before they …
Step Up or Ship Out - YouTube
0 comments:
Post a Comment