Emiliano Sala 'murder' claims as investigators probe string of concerns

Emiliano Sala was killed in a plane crash just two days after completing a £15million move to Cardiff City and a new book has examined shock claims he was murdered

Posted Monday, April 27, 2020 by Dailystar.co.uk

A new book will examine shocking claims footballer Emiliano Sala was murdered.

Extracts reveal investigators probing his death have raised concerns over a string of key details.

The soccer ace was killed in a plane crash aged 28 in January last year – two days after he had signed for Cardiff City.

In the explosive new book The Football Crime of the Century – The Killing of Emiliano Sala, an inside source reveals: “The language of ‘killing’ is accepted and almost commonplace, and the next stage is whether the multitude of enquiries, yet to be concluded, go even further.

“Perhaps that is expecting too much given so much evidence is either covered up or destroyed. But the conspiracy theorists from those closest to the investigations have used the word ‘murder’.”

A new book on the death of Emiliano Sala investigates claims he was murdered

The investigation by the French authorities has centred around pilot David Ibbotson, who flew the single-engine Piper Malibu N264DB aircraft – despite not being licensed to carry paying passengers.

The flight from Nantes to Cardiff was delayed from morning to 7.15pm despite him being banned from night flying because he was colour blind.

Another revelation to spark concern is that the Ibbotson’s harness was missing when the pilot’s seat was pulled from the wreckage.

His body has never been found and he is presumed dead and one bizarre theory is that he escaped the plane before it crashed.

In the book, author Harry Harris says: “Ibbotson was heavily in debt with five county court orders against him, so would take risks.

"Whatever the pilot was, including part-time DJ and plumber, he was also an expert skydiver.”

There are also concerns over how Sala was exposed to carbon monoxide that left him unconscious.

Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman, 62, has hinted at foul play – saying there were “odd circumstances”.

He said: “The cockpit and cabin area had been severely disrupted. The pilot’s seat was intact, though the harness was missing.

“The harness for the right front seat was still in place and had been secured in a manner suggesting this seat had not been occupied during the flight.”

Dorset Police arrested a man on suspicion of manslaughter last year but are now taking no further action.

The aircraft was carrying Mr Sala and Mr Ibbotson, from Crowle, Lincolnshire, after the star returned to FC Nantes to say goodbye to friends.

Cardiff are refusing to pay the €17m fee agreed with Nantes for the transfer, claiming it was never completed. Fifa have ruled the deal was done and that the club must pay the first €6m instalment. Cardiff have since appealed.