French club Nantes have retired the Number 9 shirt in memory of their former striker Emiliano Sala.
The late Sala was confirmed dead on Thursday, February 7 after formal identification done by Dorset Coroners concluded that his body was the one identified from the plane wreckage.Â
Waldemar Kita, President of FC Nantes wrote: "I do not have the words, it's a tragedy, I'm devastated, Emiliano left his mark, which is why, like many fans, I want to honour him again by removing the number 9 ".
All Ligue 1 and 2 games will hold a minute's applause before kick-off this weekend as a mark of respect.
"Tonight and during the whole weekend, we will all be united in paying a last tribute to Emiliano before the matches kick off," LFP President Nathalie Boy de la Tour said in a statement.
Sala was a fan favourite at Nantes having scored 42 Ligue 1 goals in the last three-and-a-half years, with 12 of those coming in just 19 appearances this season
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