Stars come together to fund private search for Emiliano Sala

Posted Sunday, January 27, 2019 by Tribalfootball.com

A private fund has been launched to continue the search for Emiliano Sala's missing plane.

The campaign has raised £130,000 from almost 2,000 people in just a matter of days.

The cash appeal was launched by Sport Cover, the name of Emiliano's agent Meissa N'Diaye's Paris-based football agency.

Adrien Rabiot has donated €25,000 while Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and ex-West Ham star Dimitri Payet have given funds.

Leicester's Demarai Gray and Corentin Tolisso have also contributed to the donation page.

A message on the web fundraiser, which carries the Spanish language hashtag #NoDejenDeBuscar Emiliano Sala and means 'Don't Stop Looking for Emiliano Sala', said: “This fund was created in response to the urgency of the situation and the authorities' decision not to pursue the search.

"Its sole objective, through a specialized non-profit organization, is to help the family of Emiliano and pilot Dave Ibbotson continue the search.

"Thank you for helping with the amount you want."

Emiliano's family also sent a letter to Argentinian President Mauricio Macri urging him to pressure the British and French governments into trying to make sure the search was resumed.

Macri has asked his Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie to talk to his counterparts in France and Britain.

A statement issued by the President's office said: “President Mauricio Macri has instructed his Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie to make a formal request to the governments of Great Britain and France for them to seek the continuance of the search efforts."