League Two club, Cardiff City, was unsuccessful in its claim for over £100 million in compensation. The claim stemmed from loss of income and damages following the tragic death of footballer Emiliano Sala. The plane crash occurred when Sala was en route to Wales for his transfer to the Premier League club in 2019. The commercial court in Nantes ruled Cardiff's claim was unfounded, dismissing the £104 million claim. The court also ordered the team, which was relegated from the Championship last season, to pay around £400,000 in legal fees to the Ligue 1 club, Nantes.

Furthermore, the court ruled that Nantes suffered moral damage, with Cardiff to pay £260,000 in costs. This ruling adds to a series of unfavorable decisions for Cardiff, which had previously lost in FIFA, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and the Swiss supreme court. The case has been ongoing since Sala's death in January 2019, which involved an unlicensed flight.

The crash, during the January transfer window of 2019, caused the deaths of Sala and pilot David Ibbotson near Guernsey. The legal battles stemmed from Cardiff's belief that the Argentinian footballer could have kept the team in the Premier League. Sala, 28 at the time of the accident, was traveling in a single-engine Piper Malibu aircraft. The flight was later found to be unlicensed, and the trip organizer, David Henderson, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for endangering the safety of the aircraft.

Cardiff City stated in December that the case aimed to protect the integrity of football, arguing that Emiliano Sala deserved better and that football deserved better. Currently, Cardiff City is second in League One, looking to return to the Championship.

The court dismissed Cardiff's claim for £104 million. In addition to the compensation claim, Cardiff was ordered to pay around £400,000 in legal fees to Nantes. This ruling represents a significant financial blow to Cardiff, which must also consider the additional costs associated with the moral damage to Nantes, estimated at £260,000.

The French court's decision reinforces the series of unfavorable rulings Cardiff has faced in other legal forums, including FIFA, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and the Swiss Supreme Court. This collection of decisions underscores the complexity and legal difficulties the club has faced since the tragic loss of Emiliano Sala.