Emiliano Sala: Search for Cardiff City striker and pilot abandoned
The search was called off after a fourth unsuccessful day since the aircraft disappeared off radars on Monday night north of Guernsey - updates from Thursday
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Your support makes all the difference.Follow the latest updates as the search for Emiliano Sala, a pilot and a missing plane was called off on Thursday afternoon without any trace of the missing Cardiff City striker in the English Channel.
The search was called off after a fourth unsuccessful day since the aircraft disappeared off radars on Monday night north of Guernsey. After officials confirmed that the priority of the search changed from a rescue mission to a recovery operation, a statement from police said that Thursday search will focus on coastal areas of the Channel Islands and northern France, yet this turned up nothing linked to the missing aircraft.
Cardiff City have said that they are “realistic” about the fate of Sala, who joined the club in a £15m deal last weekend, and revelations about the aeroplane that was carrying Sala and pilot Dave Ibbotson continue to emerge, including a voice message left by Sala to his friends in Argentina in the final hours before he disappeared complaining about the condition of the plane and his fear for his safety. Follow the live updates below.
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Cardiff City are expected to make a statement that will be released online in the next few minutes.
The Press Association reports that chief executive Ken Choo has visited the Cardiff City Stadium to record a video statement, and although he has left the ground without speaking to reporters, the statement will be released imminently.
BREAKINGCardiff City chief executive Ken Choo has released a statement:
We were very shocked upon hearing the news that the plane had gone missing. We expected Emiliano to arrive last night into Cardiff and today was due to be his first day with the team.
Our owner, Tan Sri Vincent Tan, and chairman, Mehmet Dalman, are all very distressed about the situation.
We made the decision first thing this morning to call off training with the thoughts of the squad, management staff and the entire Club with Emiliano and the pilot.
All of us at Cardiff City FC would like to thank our fans, and the entire footballing family for their support at this difficult time.
We continue to pray for positive news.
Cardiff chief executive Ken Choo has also given a lengthy interview to Sky Sports News, in which he confirmed that the club felt they had no option than to cancel training this morning, and he has also personally been at the club's stadium and training ground in order to support any staff who have been deeply affected by the ordeal.
We called off training today because everybody is not in the right frame of mind. Everybody is shocked at this point in time, including myself.
The second thing is I met him on Friday and he is such a nice person. He’s so, so happy to be here and so happy to start.
Words can’t describe the look on his face when he met us and we walked him around the ground.
We knew him then and we really feel sad to hear of this news because he’s such a great person.
I think you could see the happiness in his face, one of the best days of his life as he expressed. So we are very sad, we want to thank people who have supported us today, with lots of messages and emails.
The club continue to wait for news from officials who are searching for the missing plane, though the latest update from Guernsey Police is that there is currently “no trace” of the aircraft and that a decision will need to be taken at sunset on Tuesday if they are to continue looking in the Channel throughout the night.
Choo added:
When we get some news then we will convey it from the club. We have a lot of fans and supporters who are concerned and we understand, and we are concerned too.
We are waiting for them to inform us. We are trying to communicate to the agent of the player, to his family as well.
At this point in time we just want to know if he is ok, if the pilot is ok and if the plane is ok.
Nantes head coach Vahid Halilhodzic has spoken of his former player Sala, and although there is no confirmation of news on the plane's whereabouts yet, he is not optimistic.
Speaking to French newspaper La Voix du Nord, he said:
It was already a delicate period. However, this, this is very difficult. We are waiting, but we are not kidding ourselves -- we expect the worst.
Leicester City have posted a message on Twitter to pass on their thoughts to Cardiff City at what is undoubtedly a difficult time.
Upon confirmation that Emiliano Sala was on the plane that went missing last night, thoughts immediately flashed back to the tragic events in October when the helicopter belonging to Leicester chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha crashed outside the King Power Stadium, killing the Thai businessman and four other on board.
Cardiff supporters have started to lay tributes to Emiliano Sala at the Cardiff City Stadium, with flowers, scarves and messages left by the Fred Keenor statue outside the ground.
LATESTThe search has been scaled back to one plane and a lifeboat, although a second plane will rejoin the search once it has refuelled.
There remains no trace of the plane after searching more than 1,155sq miles, and a decision on continuing the search will be made in the next few hours.
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