Ex-Cardiff Midfielder Peter Whittingham Dies at Age 35
Mar 19, 2020
CARDIFF, WALES - MARCH 11: Peter Whittingham of Cardiff City during the Sky Bet Championship match between Cardiff City and Birmingham City at The Cardiff City Stadium on March 11, 2017 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images)
Whittingham last played for Cardiff in 2017. He made 457 appearances for the Bluebirds after joining them in 2007 from Aston Villa, scoring 96 goals from midfield.
PerBBC Sport, Whittingham, who also played for Burnley, Derby County and Blackburn Rovers during a 15-year senior career, had been in hospital as a result of head injuries suffered in a pub in Barry, Wales, on March 7.
South Wales Police said he had an "accidental fall," per Sky Sports.
Whittingham started his career at Villa after rising through the academy ranks, making 63 appearances, but he moved to Cardiff in the Championship after finding his first-team opportunities limited.
During his decade with the Bluebirds, Whittingham played a crucial part in their promotion to the Premier League in 2013, scoring eight goals in 40 league appearances.
The former England under-21 international also started for Cardiff in both the 2008 FA Cup final against Portsmouth and the 2012 League Cup final against Liverpool.
There were numerous tributes to Whittingham on social media:
All at Aston Villa are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Peter Whittingham, an Academy graduate and FA Youth Cup winner who represented our first team between 2003 and 2007.
Rest in Peace Peter Whittingham😔 Didnt know him personally but have the biggest respect for his footballing ability and that wand of a left foot which scored so many free kicks which I absolutely loved watching. Thoughts are with his family and friends 💔 pic.twitter.com/VnbPieSlrX
He finished his career at Blackburn, where he made 20 League One appearances in 2017-18 during a season that saw them promoted back to the Championship. He left the club by mutual consent following the season and retired.
Cardiff City Relegated from Premier League After 3-2 Loss to Crystal Palace
May 4, 2019
CARDIFF, WALES - MAY 04: Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace scoring goal during the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Crystal Palace at Cardiff City Stadium on May 4, 2019 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Cardiff City became the third and final team relegated from the Premier League after losing 3-2 at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Goals from Wilfried Zaha, Michy Batshuayi and Andros Townsend dispatched the Bluebirds back to the Championship after just one season, with Cardiff responding through a Martin Kelly own goal and a strike from Bobby Reid.
It means manager Neil Warnock's team join Fulham and Huddersfield Town as those making a quick return to English football's second tier.
The result means Brighton & Hove Albion are assured of safety ahead of Sunday's game away to Arsenal, with the Seagulls' status secured by rivals Palace.
It marks the second time in recent years Cardiff have only last one season in the Premier League. The club was promoted on the watch of then-manager Malky Mackay in 2013.
City were relegated after a tumultuous season during which Mackay was sacked and replaced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The current Manchester United boss couldn't stave off the drop in 2014, and Neil Warnock has been unable to do it five years later despite providing some entertainment along the way:
Their squad has obvious deficiencies at both ends of the pitch, as Cardiff have struggled to score goals and leaked too many.
Finding the net a mere 30 times in 37 matches makes the Bluebirds the second-lowest scorers in the division behind Huddersfield. Meanwhile, the 66 conceded gives Cardiff the third-most surrendered behind Huddersfield and Fulham.
Even so, Warnock and the Bluebirds can point to several moments of misfortune and wonder what might have been.
One of the most notable came when Chelsea won 2-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium in March. Warnock was enraged when Cesar Azpilicueta equalised for the visitors from an offside position, perAlex Smithof theDaily Mirror: "Against the big teams, you have to have VAR because you don't get the big decisions."
CARDIFF, WALES - MARCH 31: Cardiff manager Neil Warnock is consoled by Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta after the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Chelsea FC at Cardiff City Stadium on March 31, 2019 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stu
It was one of many outbursts against officials that earned charges and fines from the FA. As a measure of the respect he's earned, Cardiff supporters started a crowdfunding page to helppayWarnock's £20,000 fine.
There was also tragedy when January signing Nantes striker Emiliano Sala diedin aplane crash over the English channel, along with pilot David Ibbotson, shortly after signing for the club.
If Warnock stays in the job, he faces a challenge to rebuild a squad set to lose some of its best players. Chief among them is holding midfielder Aron Gunnarsson, who will sign forAl-Arabithis summer.
Aron Gunnarsson has to go down as one of Cardiff’s greatest ever signings. A free transfer and he’s as important to the side now as he was when he joined eight years ago. A proper player and it will cost a fortune to replace him. He will be missed
Emiliano Sala Officially Pronounced Dead After Body Recovered from Plane Crash
Feb 7, 2019
Emiliano Sala's body has been recovered from the wreckage of a plane that went down over the English Channel, Dorset Police confirmed Thursday (h/t Jim White of Sky Sports):
Dorset Police has confirmed the body of @CardiffCityFC player Emiliano Sala has been recovered from a plane in the English Channel.
#Update The body brought to Portland Port today has been formally identified by HM Coroner for Dorset as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala.
The families of Mr Sala and pilot David Ibbotson have been updated. Our thoughts remain with them all
Sala had been missing since a plane carrying the player and pilot David Ibbotson went off radar the evening of Monday, January 21.
Premier League sideCardiff City, who had agreed a club-record deal to sign from Nantes during the January transfer window, released a statement online offering "our most heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family of Emiliano. He and David will forever remain in our thoughts."
Investigators had spotted the body in the wreckage of a plane Monday.BBC News reported the "Air Accidents Investigations Branch (AAIB) said the operation had been carried out 'as dignified a way as possible' and the men's families were kept updated throughout."
Meanwhile, Dorset Police also announced "specially-trained family liaison officers" are working to support the families of both Sala and Ibbotson.
Many others within the footballing fraternity have responded to the news by paying their respects in memory of the 28-year-old Argentinian forward:
Rest in Peace Emiliano Sala - in the fast-paced footballing world, an often unforgiving business, the 28-year-old commanded unanimity at all the clubs he fought so hard for as genuine, an unflappable fighter & a loveable character.
An initial search for the light aircraft was suspended by Guernsey Police on January 24. However, the search was quickly resumed after "an online appeal started by Sala's agent raised £324,000 (371,000 euros) for a private search led by marine scientist and oceanographer David Mearns," per the BBC.
Tributes were made to Sala and Ibbotson when Cardiff played Arsenal in the Premier League on January 29. The game at the Emirates Stadium would have been Sala's debut for his new club:
The Bluebirds alsopaid tributeto Sala and Ibbotson when the club hosted Bournemouth on Saturday, with an arrangement of tulips and daffodils inside the Cardiff City Stadium.
Body Recovered from Wreckage of Plane Carrying Emiliano Sala
Feb 7, 2019
A body has been recovered in the search for Cardiff City player Emiliano Sala.
The wreckage of the plane carrying the striker and pilot David Ibbotson was discovered on Sunday on the seabed off Guernsey.
According to Sky Sports, a body was visible in the Piper Malibu light aircraft, and it has now been recovered.
A statement from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch read:
"Following extensive visual examination of the accident site using the remotely operated vehicle (ROV), it was decided to attempt recovery operations.
"In challenging conditions, the AAIB and its specialist contractors successfully recovered the body previously seen amidst the wreckage. The operation was carried out in as dignified a way as possible and the families were kept informed of progress.
"Unfortunately, attempts to recover the aircraft wreckage were unsuccessful before poor weather conditions forced us to return the ROV to the ship. The weather forecast is poor for the foreseeable future and so the difficult decision was taken to bring the overall operation to a close.
"The body is currently being taken to Portland to be passed into the care of the Dorset Coroner. Although it was not possible to recover the aircraft, the extensive video record captured by the ROV is expected to provide valuable evidence for our safety investigation. We expect our next update to be an interim report, which we intend to publish within one month of the accident occurring."
The plane carrying Sala, 28, and Ibbotson, 59, went missing over the English Channel more than two weeks ago.
Sala signed for Cardiff from former club Nantes for a club-record fee during the January transfer window. The Argentinian was travelling to join his new club when his plane went missing.
Guernsey Police called off the initial search for Sala and Ibbotson on January 24.
A private search was then launched after contributors to a GoFundMe page raised more than €300,000.
Nantes Reportedly Demand Payment for Emiliano Sala Transfer to Cardiff City
Feb 6, 2019
Nantes have reportedly informed Cardiff City they will start legal proceedings against the Premier League club if they do not make the first payment for £15 million striker Emiliano Sala, who is missing and presumed dead.
Sala was aboard a plane that disappeared from radar on January 21, with the wreckage only discovered on Sunday near the coast of Guernsey in the English Channel.
According to BBC Wales (h/t BBC Sport), Cardiff had withheld the first payment to the French club while investigations continued, but Nantes have now asked for the money to be received in the next 10 days.
The light aircraft was also carrying pilot David Ibbotson, who was transporting Sala from France to Wales to join up with his new team.
Stuart James of the Guardian reported the player's body is yet to be recovered, leaving Cardiff "shocked and dismayed" by Nantes' financial request. There is no suggestion the Bluebirds will not pay Sala's transfer fee, but the timing of the demand has surprised the Welsh club.
Sala was a Cardiff player for only two days before the tragic accident, and it is reportedly believed the Bluebirds hold a £16 million insurance policy for the Argentinian forward, per James.
Bordeaux also are expected to receive part of the transfer fee due to a sell-on clause, with Sala moving from the club to Nantes in 2015.
'Body Visible' in Wreckage of Emiliano Sala's Plane, Say Authorities
Feb 4, 2019
Flowers, messages and candles are placed in front of a giant portrait of Nantes' Argentinian forward Emilianio Sala before the French L1 football match between FC Nantes and AS Saint Etienne (ASSE) at the La Beaujoire stadium in Nantes, western France on January 30, 2019. - A plane transporting Sala -- who had just been transferred from French team Nantes to Premier League club Cardiff City in a 17-million-euro ($19.3-million) move -- and British pilot Dave Ibbotson vanished from radar around 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of the Channel island of Guernsey on January 21. (Photo by SEBASTIEN SALOM GOMIS / AFP) (Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN SALOM GOMIS/AFP/Getty Images)
A body is visible in the wreckage of the plane that was carrying Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala, according to the Air Accident Investigation Branch.
The light aircraft went missing over the English Channel two weeks ago.
It was carrying just Sala, who was on his way to his new club after signing from Nantes, and pilot David Ibbotson.
The wreckage was discovered Sunday on the seabed off Guernsey by a privately funded search party led by David Mearns in coordination with the AAIB:
Wreckage of the plane carrying Emiliano Sala and piloted by David Ibbotson was located early this morning by the FPV MORVEN. As agreed with the AAIB they moved the GEO OCEAN III over the position we provided them to visually identify the plane by ROV. #EmilianoSala
The families of Emiliano Sala and David Ibbotson have been notified by Police. The AAIB will be making a statement tomorrow. Tonight our sole thoughts are with the families and friends of Emiliano and David. #EmilianoSalas#NoDejenDeBuscarAEmilianoSala
It has now been confirmed a body is visible in the remains of the aircraft, per Rob Harris of the Associated Press:
Air accident investigators say body visible in wreckage of plane that went missing carrying Emiliano Sala & pilot David Ibbotson. Pic of wreckage released by Air Accident Investigation Branch pic.twitter.com/iq2QsNAqIp
Guernsey Police called off the initial search for Sala, 28, and Ibbotson, 60, on January 24, announcing in a statement that "the chances of survival at this stage are extremely remote."
The private search was funded by contributors to a GoFundMe page that raised more than £300,000.
Wreckage from Emiliano Sala's Plane Found by Search Team After Disappearance
Feb 3, 2019
Nantes' Argentinian forward Emiliano Sala gestures during the French L1 football match Nantes vs Montpellier at the La Beaujoire stadium in Nantes, western France, on January 8, 2019. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP) (Photo credit should read LOIC VENANCE/AFP/Getty Images)
Wreckage has been found Sunday from the plane that carried Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala, according to the Press Association.
The 28-year-old's plane had gone missing over the English Channel on Jan. 21. Both Sala and the pilot, David Ibbotson, are considered missing presumed dead, per Sky Sports.
Sala, who completed a transfer to the Bluebirds on Jan. 19, was traveling back to Cardiff from France after making a trip to say farewell to his former Nantes teammates, per CNN.
Cardiff City executive director Ken Choo released a statement Jan. 22 after the club canceled a training session in wake of the striker's disappearance.
"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," Choo said. "Our owner, Tan Sri Vincent Tan, and chairman, Mehmet Dalman, are all very distressed about the situation."
Sala began his professional career with French side Bordeaux in 2012. After loan stints with French clubs Orleans, Niort and Caen over the next three seasons, he joined Nantes on a permanent move in July 2015 and made 117 appearances in all competitions for the Canaries before his move to Cardiff.
He'd yet to make his Premier League debut with the Bluebirds, who paid a club-record fee for him.
"I'm very happy to be here," he told reporters about the transfer. "It gives me great pleasure and I can't wait to start training, meet my new teammates and get down to work."
Emiliano Sala Search Called off by Authorities After Plane Went Missing
Jan 24, 2019
In this his picture taken on Nov. 4, 2018, Argentine soccer player, Emiliano Sala, of the FC Nantes club, western France, reacts after scoring during a soccer match against Guingam, in Nantes, France. The French civil aviation authority says Emiliano Sala was aboard a small passenger plane that went missing off the coast of the island of Guernsey. (AP Photo/David Vincent)
The search for the missing plane carrying Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala was officially called off on Thursday.
The Guernsey Police released the following statement regarding the decision:
As seen in the following video from ITV News, search plane pilot Mike Tidd said there is "absolutely no chance" of finding Sala or the pilot of the missing plane alive at this stage:
Mike Tidd, the pilot flying the Channel Islands Air Search plane looking for the missing Piper PA-46 Malibu says "there is absolutely no chance of finding anybody alive." He does not think the search from the skies will continue either. pic.twitter.com/BlibbDxbUG
The plane went missing Monday off Guernsey while taking Sala from Nantes in western France to the Welsh capital of Cardiff.
PerESPN.com, the search began in the English Channel around the island on Tuesday and went on for two days before getting called off on Thursday.
Sala, 28, is an Argentina native who spent the past four seasons at Nantes in Ligue 1.
During his time at Nantes, Sala scored 42 goals across 117 appearances, which led to Cardiff agreeing a club-record £18 million fee with the club to take him to the Premier League.
While the official search has concluded, the Guernsey Police's statement noted that all vessels and aircrafts in the area will be asked to keep an eye out for any sign of the missing plane, Sala or pilot Dave Ibbotson.
Plane Carrying Cardiff City Striker Emiliano Sala Missing
Jan 22, 2019
Nantes' Argentinian forward Emiliano Sala gestures during the French L1 football match Nantes vs Montpellier at the La Beaujoire stadium in Nantes, western France, on January 8, 2019. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP) (Photo credit should read LOIC VENANCE/AFP/Getty Images)
New Cardiff City forward Emiliano Sala was on board a plane carrying him to the Welsh capital that went missing on Monday night off the coast of Guernsey.
As reported by HLN's Kristof Terreur on Tuesday, police sources told Agence-France Presse they believe the Argentinian was on board the flight from Nantes, where Sala had been playing prior to his move to Cardiff.
The French civil aviation authority confirmed Sala was on board, per Rob Harris of the Associated Press.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Tozh4AHMGM
Guernsey Police issued a statement later on Tuesday saying they are still searching. It was added that if the plane "did land on the water, the chances of survival are at this stage, unfortunately, slim."
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During the course of the 15-hour search, which used multiple air and sea assets from the Channel Islands, UK and France, a number of floating objects have been seen in the water. We have been unable to confirm whether any of these are from the missing aircraft.
Sala's father, Horacio, told C5N (h/t Get French Football News) they are still hoping for good news: "I cannot believe it. I am desperate… I do not know what will happen… I hope that good news will come. My family knew nothing, I had to tell them. For him, like for us all, his transfer to Cardiff was a big step. He is a boy who has always fought hard. A humble boy.”
Cardiff City later issued a statement on Sala's status on the club website:
"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."
Waldemar Kita, the president of Nantes, also responded to the news of the plane's disappearance:
Nantes president Waldemar Kita to CNEWS | "I think Emiliano Sala wanted to say goodbye to his friends. He's a polite boy, kind, adorable, loved by everyone... always very respectful, very courteous. I think of his family, of all his friends. Sincerely, he's an adorable boy."
The French club were scheduled to face Entente and Saint-Etienne on Wednesday and Saturday, respectively, but have postponed the contest, per BBC Sport.
The 28-year-old striker signed for Cardiff on January 19 for whatBBC Sportdescribed as an "undisclosed record club fee." His Twitter account's heading has already been updated to show him posing with a Bluebirds shirt.
He also posted this tweet, saying goodbye to his old team-mates:
Sala joined Nantes from Bordeaux in 2015 and blossomed into a productive striker in the Pays de la Loire. In 19 Ligue 1 appearances this season, he bagged 12 goals and was the league's third-highest scorer at the time of his departure.
Cardiff are stuck in the relegation zone and have scored just 19 Premier League goals so far, tied for the second-worst mark in the division.
