Cardiff City FC: Emiliano Sala was 'abandoned' by club - Willie McKay

Cardiff City FC welcomes Emiliano Sala from Nantes FC - Getty

Emiliano Sala had to arrange his own travel in a £15m transfer from Nantes as he was "abandoned" by Cardiff City, says ex-football agent Willie McKay.


McKay's son Mark was Nantes' acting agent in the deal for the footballer, who died in a plane crash last month.

Willie McKay arranged the flight that crashed in the English Channel, killing Sala, 28, and pilot David Ibbotson.

Cardiff say they "strongly reject" the claim they neglected to provide Sala with travel arrangements.

"He was abandoned in a hotel more or less to do his travel arrangements himself," Willie McKay said.

But in a statement, Cardiff said: "Our club was in the process of organising a commercial flight for Mr Sala until this offer was declined owing to separate arrangements being made - the planning and specifics of which Cardiff was not privy to.

"Cardiff has serious concerns over the potential unlawfulness of the journey following information that has been released. Clearly more answers as to the details surrounding this terrible tragedy are required."

Willie McKay is not a registered agent but when asked why he was involved in the Sala deal, he replied: "I was helping my son."

The body of Argentine Sala - the Bluebirds' record signing - was found in the wreckage of the Piper Malibu N264DB, which was found on the seabed 13 days after it vanished over the English Channel near Guernsey. Ibbotson's body has not been found.

Photos of Tribute to Emiliano Sala in France:

...before a French Ligue 1 match - Getty

Players and supporters observe a moment of reflection - Getty

"I wish I had never gone to watch the guy play," said Mark McKay. "I wish I had never known anything about it in the first place."
Speaking to the BBC, the McKays say they have been made "scapegoats" but believe investigations will show the crash was a result of "pilot error".

In a wide-ranging interview, the father and son also say they:

• Learned Sala was missing through a phone call from Cardiff boss Neil Warnock

• Were paying the entire sum of Sala's travel

• Will not chase Nantes for the money they are owed for brokering the deal

• The crash has made Mark McKay question his future in the industry
BBC Sport