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Nantes fined over Emiliano Sala flare tributes

Nantes fans pay tribute to Sala
Image: Nantes fans pay tribute to Emiliano Sala

Nantes have been fined by the French Football League after fans set off flares as part of a tribute to Emiliano Sala on two separate occasions.

Supporters of the Ligue 1 club fired off flares and held aloft a giant banner of Sala at the game against St Etienne on January 30, the first fixture after the plane carrying him disappeared over the English Channel.

They subsequently let off pyrotechnics in their match with Nimes on February 10, the first match after the 28-year-old's death had been confirmed.

Nantes have now been fined £14,400 (€16,000) for the initial incident at the St Etienne game and a further £3,900 (€4,500) at the Nimes game for "use of pyrotechnics and throwing objects".

Sala scored 48 goals in 133 games for Nantes before leaving to join Cardiff.

Sala died when the private plane bringing him to Cardiff crashed into the English Channel on January 21, just two days after his record move to the Premier League club was completed.

The pilot of the plane, David Ibbotson, is still missing.

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