The search for Emiliano Sala is expected to resume after funds were raised to restart the rescue operation for the 28-year-old.
A decision was made on Thursday to end the search for Sala and pilot David Ibbotson after the footballer’s plane went missing as he was travelling from Nantes to Cardiff.
Several high-profile players have since come out and pushed for the search to continue and a GoFundMe page is close to reaching its €300,000 target.
In the first round of UK fixtures since Sala’s disappearance, teams sported black armbands as a mark of respect for the Argentine forward in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Manchester United and Arsenal wore black armbands on Friday night, as did Derby County and Accrington Stanley in Saturday’s early kick-off. And the 3 o’clock games saw teams wear the armband, which is reportedly when Sala’s family got in contact with the FA.
Sala’s family felt it was inappropriate for teams to wear black armbands, which are traditionally worn to pay tribute to a person who has passed away, when the player had not yet been found.
Jonathan Pearce has just said Millwall and Everton players not wearing black armbands as family of Emiliano Sala contacted FA after seeing earlier games to stress he’s not been found yet. Heartbreaking situation. https://t.co/2dxpfjQQP5
— John Cross (@johncrossmirror) January 26, 2019
Jonathan Pearce, who was on commentary duty for the 5.30 kick-off between Millwall and Everton, explained to viewers that Sala’s family had been in touch with the FA and requested that teams stop wearing black armbands.
