
LONDON • Southampton have promised to ban supporters who mocked the death of Emiliano Sala by making aeroplane gestures during their 2-1 Premier League home loss to Cardiff on Saturday.
The game was Cardiff's first since the Argentinian striker's body was identified by an English coroner on Thursday, a day after it was recovered from underwater wreckage in the English Channel.
After the game at the St Mary's Stadium, a video on social media appeared to show two men in the home section making aeroplane gestures in the direction of the away fans.
Southampton confirmed both fans had been spoken to by police and intended to take "an extremely firm stance" over the incident.
The club added in a statement: "Such behaviour has no place in our game and will not be tolerated at St Mary's. The club will be taking an extremely firm stance against anyone involved and intends to ban those supporters identified."
Cardiff had been given permission to wear shirts embroidered with a yellow daffodil, the national emblem of Wales and the team colour of Nantes. And a minute's silence in memory of Sala was impeccably observed before an emotional match for the Welsh club.
The plane carrying Sala from the French city of Nantes to Cardiff, his new club, disappeared near the British island of Guernsey on Jan 21.
Captain Sol Bamba dedicated his goal and the victory to Sala.
He said: "A lot of things were going through my mind.
"I knew Emiliano. I know he was looking up there. The victory and the goal is for him."
The Ivorian defender scored the 69th-minute opener only for the hosts to equalise in stoppage time. But Kenneth Zohore netted a 93rd-minute winner that took Cardiff out of the relegation zone.
"It has been a tough couple of weeks," Bamba told Sky Sports. "We knew we had to give our all today. It wasn't easy but a performance like this was very pleasing."
Cardiff boss Neil Warnock was proud of his side's resilience as he paid his own post-match tribute.
He said: "Emiliano was a fabulous lad, and it's appropriate we came down with our black armbands on and put in a performance like that.
"We could easily have folded, but we were determined.
"We're limited, but you can't question their character and what they've got under their shirts because they've bags of heart."
Pilot David Ibbotson is still missing and the family's crowdfunding effort was boosted by the €27,000 (S$41,500) from French World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe, who pledged the same amount to the Sala search.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Solskjaer boosted by Mourinho's work, claims Van Gaal. Van Gaal's claims seem at odds with the more entertaining football played by United since Solskjaer started a reign that looks set to
Solskjaer boosted by Mourinho's work, claims Van Gaal | The

Paul Parker has backed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to be the next long term manager of Manchester United. Solskjaer has won seven and drawn one of his first eight matches since taking over as a caretaker
'We are with Solskjaer to the death' - Herrera hails

Atletico Madrid fell to their first La Liga defeat in five months as they were beaten 1-0 at Real Betis on Sunday, missing a golden chance to close the gap with leaders Barcelona and slipping six
Soccer-Atletico title bid suffers with defeat at Betis in

Football: After goalie Casillas' heart attack, wife Sara says

Chelsea beat Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties to reach Europa League final By Clare Lovell Soccer Football - Europa League Semi Final Second Leg - Chelsea v Eintracht Frankfurt - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - May 9, 2019 Chelseas Kepa Arrizabalaga celebrates with David Luiz and team mates af
Chelsea in Europa League final with win on penalties against

Football: Napoli stumble at Fiorentina and trail Juventus by 8pts, Martinez gets Inter back to winning ways Fiorentina goalkeeper Alban Lafont (in red) going for the ball during the Serie A
Napoli stumble at Fiorentina, Martinez gets Inter back winning

Substitute Javier Hernandez scored a late brace including a stoppage-time winner to help West Ham United beat Huddersfield Town 4-3 in a roller-coaster Premier League clash on Saturday. The Mexico
Football: West Ham leave it late to see off spirited Huddersfield

Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium win. 2 Min Read. Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group I - Cyprus v Belgium - GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus - March 24, 2019 Belgium's
Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium win

Gunners look for away spark. Published. but their chances of staying there now depends on improving patchy results away from the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners can climb above Tottenham into
Gunners look for three points away against Man City - SPORTS BLOG

Premier League: Spurs beaten for first time in new stadium; Saints stay up Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - April 27, 2019 West Ham's Michail Antonio celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Premier League: Spurs beaten for first time in new stadium

Home United and Albirex Niigata (S) are leading the pack as the 2017 S.League season gets underway. ESPN FC. Global. Scores Transfers Live football odds with bet365.
Tampines must end Albirex dominance to keep title chase alive

Warnock hails Cardiff's heart as Bluebirds win again for Sala That was the first game since the tragedy; the three games since we've been superb. Cardiff have to move on from Emiliano Sala
Warnock proud of Cardiff response to Sala tragedy at Arsenal

Mauricio Pochettino believes Tottenham's 3-0 win at Cardiff gives his side more belief in the Premier League title race. Spurs moved back into second place and, to within six points of Premier
Mauricio Pochettino Admits Cardiff Win 'Makes Us Believe' as
0 comments:
Post a Comment