Five years after the tragic death of promising Emiliano Sala in an airplane accident that shook the football world, Cardiff City, the team that had acquired the player's rights, filed a lawsuit against Nantes for $128 million as compensation for his death and the potential goals that the Argentine would have scored according to an artificial intelligence analysis.

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Following Cardiff City's relegation in 2019 to the English Football League Championship, the Welsh club found an additional reason to sue the French club. According to an estimate by Analytics FC, Emiliano Sala would have reduced Cardiff's chances of relegation, leading legal and financial expert Maurice Nussenbaum to calculate a $128 million financial loss due to the demotion and reputational damage.

Meanwhile, Nantes filed a lawsuit against Cardiff for damages to the club's morale, seeking only a fine against Cardiff.

Emiliano Sala died on his way to Cardiff to sign with the Welsh team, after they paid $7.2 million for his services. During his journey, the plane he was traveling in disappeared, and the wreckage of the aircraft, as well as the player's body, were later found. Emiliano Sala was subsequently buried in Progreso, Argentina.