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Emiliano Sala 'abandoned like a dog' by those responsible for his welfare, said late father
Emiliano Sala’s late father accused those responsible for his son’s welfare of abandoning him “like a dog”, it has emerged.
Horacio Sala, who died last month – three months after his son was killed in a plane crash over the English Channel – hit out in a BBC documentary on the tragedy which will be broadcast on Monday night.
In an interview filmed before he suffered a fatal heart attack on April 26, Sala snr said all the parties involved in his son ending up on a potentially-illegal flight should have done more to look out for him.
“Why was it so hard for them to find something safe?" he said. "Why couldn’t they?"
“They left him alone. They left him alone like a dog. They abandoned him.”
Sala’s mother, Mercedes Taffarel, also spoke to the programme, Emiliano Sala: The family’s search for truth.
Taffarel, who in March angrily accused Cardiff City of failing to “take care” of him before his tragic death, said: “It still hurts so much. I think he’s going to call me on the phone, but no. It’s terrible, a pain that I can’t explain.
“He had succeeded in becoming the footballer he always wanted to be. He could have done so much but, well, God took him.”
The striker’s best friend from school, Martin Molteni, said: “Clearly there was carelessness, clearly there was negligence. Whose? Justice will determine it,” he said. “That person has to pay.”
Sala died on a flight to Cardiff from Nantes after his £15 million transfer, although the fatal flight was actually arranged by Willie McKay, who helped broker the deal for the French club.
Cardiff told the programme: “This season has been one of abject tragedy for everyone who knew Emiliano Sala.
“Cardiff City has been working with the appropriate parties to ensure that the Sala family is taken care of – as a matter of principle. And we would encourage others involved to do the same.”
McKay declined to take part in the programme but has repeatedly stated that Sala’s flight was booked via Dave Henderson – an experienced light-aircraft pilot who had flown him around Europe on many occasions – and that he had no input into the selection of pilot or plane.
Henderson has yet to comment on McKay’s claim and attempts to reach him have been unsuccessful.