A pair of Southampton fans were detained by police after appearing to mock the tragic death of Emiliano Sala during Cardiff's victory at St Mary's.

The Bluebirds were playing their first fixture since Sala's body was formally identified after it had been recovered from the wreckage of the Piper Malibu plane he had been flying in at St Mary's on Saturday.

Striker Sala disappeared over the English Channel as he flew from Nantes to Cardiff after securing a club record £15million switch.

Both Cardiff and Saints held a minute's silence before the match and wore black armbands in tribute to Sala.

But two Saints fans were spotted making airplane gestures during the game in reference to the appalling disaster.

(Image: mirror.co.uk)

Southampton wrote in a statement: “Southampton Football Club can confirm that two fans were detained and had their details taken by police during our match against Cardiff City on Saturday.

“The Club will continue to work with Hampshire Police to identify any individuals deemed to have made indecent gestures towards Cardiff supporters.

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“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.”

(Image: PA)

Hampshire Police's Football United account added on Twitter: "Sad to say more than one arrest today of Saints fans for appalling gestures towards Cardiff fans, we will be working closely with Southampton to prevent this behaviour at football."

They were both ejected from the ground and face three-year banning orders from Saints.

Travelling Cardiff fans spotted the disgusting motion and could be heard shouting "sick" in a video which spread around social media on Saturday night.

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Welsh AM Neil McEvoy tweeted: "Will this specimen be banned from your ground? I would like a reply".

Cardiff beat Saints 2-1 thanks to a 93rd minute winner from Kenneth Zohore.