Mourners have been paying their final respects to Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala in his native Argentina.

The 28-year-old died when the plane he was in with pilot David Ibbotson crashed in the English Channel en route from Nantes to Cardiff on 21 January.

A wake was held at the club Sala played for as a youth in his hometown of Progreso before the funeral started later on Saturday.

Among those who attended was Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock.

"I would like to find a responsible person...someone who says to me: 'this happened'; but, well, it seems this was just an accident," said Sala's aunt Mirta Taffarel.

Sala was killed when a single-engine light aircraft, flown by pilot Mr Ibbotson, crashed near Alderney just two days after he became Cardiff City's record transfer.

His body, which was recovered from the wreckage following a privately-funded search last week, was repatriated to Argentina on Friday.

It was then driven from Buenos Aires to the Sante Fe province, where Sala grew up.

Outside the wake, fans draped a banner reading 'Emi, nunca caminaras solo' or 'Emi, You'll Never Walk Alone'.

"It's as if he was a member of my family," said a sobbing Lucia Torres, who lives nearby.

"It's something I can't understand nor accept because it hurts so much. The town has been in darkness since 21 January."

"He represented a lot for us," said Daniel Ribero, president of Sala's boyhood club San Martin de Progreso.

"We're a small village and Emi was a celebrity, the only player to turn professional."

Ahead of the service, the club posted a message on social media saying: "We are waiting for you ... like the first day you left but this time to stay with us forever. Eternally in our hearts."

Text: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-47254939

Photos: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6711727/Emiliano-Salas-body-cremated-today-Argentinian-home-town.html



Photo 1: Nantes defender Nicolas Pallois (centre left), and family and friends of Argentina football player Emiliano Sala carry the star's coffin during his funeral in Progreso, Argentina today. Sala's brother Dario is pictured on the far left

Photo 2: Romina, Emiliano's sister, mourns

Photo 3: Horacio, Emiliano's father, at funeral

Photo 4: Carina Mercedes Taffarel (centre) mother of Emiliano Sala looks at the coffin after a vigil as she is comforted by relatives at Sala's boyhood club San Martin de Progreso

RIP, Emi.

H

rip sala, u'll be remebered forever

Rip

So sad, RIP

Let's not forget also about David Ibbotson. His family are still trying to find funding for that search to which Mbappe has donated 12.5m Naira.

R. I. P

RIP

He became a known celeb only after his death,same as DAGRIN. #RIP_SALA

wiseone28:
let the dead bury their dead






Everything about white people is always clean.

No canopies, No special clothes, No fighting for property, the mother is not rolling on the ground and women not holding her..unlike Afrika

try and expose, CULTURE is different.[color=#990000][/color]

dododawa1:
try and expose, CULTURE is different.[color=#990000][/color]

Read and pass.. don't react to every post like a chemical

It is so painful to watch a family grieve like this At least Sala is at peace now. RIP.

No idea why this isn't on front page.

TobiAbuja:
It is so painful to watch a family grieve like this At least Sala is at peace now. RIP.

It is for any family but the way he went makes it all the harder. They might not even find a culprit for the accident. Hopefully they can slowly move on now.

wiseone28:
Read and pass.. don't react to every post like a chemical

did I collected money from you you,for data,oga go sleep.

dododawa1:
did I collected money from you you,for data,oga go sleep.

Na so you dey talk to elders for real life

wiseone28:
Na so you dey talk to elders for real life

sho mo age mi

dododawa1:
sho mo age mi

Nso atang ke inua

wiseone28:
Nso atang ke inua

dapada

dododawa1:
dapada

It's ok

wiseone28:
It's ok

U are bless