Police are investigating reports that photographs of footballer Emiliano Sala's dead body were posted on social media.

The images appear to show the striker's remains at the Holly Tree Lodge mortuary in Bournemouth after he was killed in a plane crash in January.

The 28-year-old footballer was travelling in a light aircraft en route from Nantes to Cardiff when it crashed in the English Channel.

The images are understood to show Sala's torso, with his distinctive tattoo on his arm, mid-post-mortem examination.

In a statement, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, which is responsible for the mortuary, said: "We are revolted by this heartless act and cannot understand why anyone would do such a vile and hurtful thing."


In reference to the photographs, a spokesperson for Dorset Police said officers are "disgusted somebody did this".

Image: Sala's brother, agent and a teammate from FC Nantes carry his coffin

The spokesperson added: "It is a very difficult time for Mr Sala's family and they should not have to endure additional pain that this shameful act will undoubtedly cause."

It is believed the images were first published on social media several weeks ago.

Detectives think the person who posted the images may have broken into the morgue where Sala's body is resting.

Sky News sources say the police investigation is not focusing on mortuary employees.

The latest news comes two days after his father, Horacio Sala, 58, died of a heart attack at his home in Argentina.

Image: Horacio Sala, father of late Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala

Julio Muller, the mayor of his hometown Progreso, said: "2019 has been very hard on us. I think Horacio couldn't get over what happened to Emi.

"Every news he heard about the investigation was really tough for him."

The Argentinian striker was flying to Cardiff after making a £15m transfer to the city's Premier League side when his plane disappeared on 21 January.

The aircraft was found at the bottom of the ocean north of Guernsey more than two weeks later.

Image: The plane wreckage was located on 6 February with Sala's body inside

Sala's body was recovered from the plane wreckage on 6 February but pilot David Ibbotson, 59, has never been found.

An inquest into the footballer's death found he had died from "head and trunk" injuries.