Sala’s body arrives in Argentina

The coffin of footballer Emiliano Sala, who died in a plane crash between Nantes and Cardiff, arrived in Argentina yesterday ahead of his funeral in his hometown of Progreso. The British Airways flight carrying the body landed shortly after 9:00am (1200 GMT) at Buenos Aires airport.

A van waited to drive it to funeral ceremonies in northeastern Santa Fe, the capital of Santa Fe province, before it is returned to the family for final rites on Saturday. Nantes gave Sala a rousing send off on Sunday, playing a French league match in a special all black kit for the occasion, with each player wearing the Argentine’s name on the back of their jersey rather than their own.

Sala’s wake is due to begin at 7:00am on Saturday with most of Progreso’s 3,000 inhabitants expected to pay their respects by laying a flower on the coffin. The wake will take place in the San Martin club’s gym before Sala’s body is transported to a crematorium in Santa Fe.