FIFA gave ordered Cardiff to pay Nantes the first instalment of their transfer fee for Emiliano Sala within 45 days or they will face a three-window transfer ban.

Cardiff and Nantes have been in dispute over the transfer fee for Sala, who died in a private plane crash in January as he was jetting from France to his new club.

The Bluebirds had agreed a £15million (€17m) transfer fee for the striker before the tragic incident and were due to pay the first instalment of £5.3m (€6m) within five days of the player registering with Cardiff.

The stand-off between both clubs has caused FIFA to intervene with the world governing body now ruling that Cardiff must pay the first instalment of £5.3m within 45 days.