It was with immense sadness that the Ligue de Football Professionnel learned of Emiliano Sala's death on Thursday night.
Emiliano Sala left his mark as a likeable man and a hard-working attacker always ready to put the team first at every club he played for. Since 2010, successively with Girondins de Bordeaux, US Orléans, Chamois Niortais, Stade Malherbe Caen and then FC Nantes, Emiliano Sala showed his depth of character as a person and as a player.
Now that the search mission has recovered his body, the professional footballing world will join Sala's family and friends in paying tribute to Emiliano Sala. For Week 24 in Ligue 1 Conforama and Domino's Ligue 2, one minute's applause will be observed at every ground before matches kick off.
In this moment of intense sadness, the Ligue de Football Professionnel offers its sincerest condolences to Emiliano Sala's family and friends.
Nathalie Boy de la Tour, President of the Ligue de Football Professionnel
"Personally, like so many other people, I have a heavy heart. Emiliano Sala embodied joie de vivre, politeness, generosity and simplicity. The hommage paid to Emiliano at the match between FC Nantes and Saint-Etienne showed how much the footballing world can pull together to honour one of their own. Cut to the quick, FC Nantes showed unwavering support to Emiliano's family and friends. At the same time, numerous players and authorities stepped up to answer the call to support the search missions to find the missing plane and give his family the answers they needed. This wave of solidarity, which surpassed the borders of our championship, showed how football can bring people together well beyond the confines of the pitch. This is football's essential power. Tonight and throughout the coming weekend, we will stand united to pay a final tribute to Emiliano before the matches kick off. In the name of French professional football, I would like to thank each and every one of you for the support you have shown to the family of Emiliano Sala, whose memory will remain forever etched in our hearts."