Cardiff City's appeal against paying the first instalment of six million euros (6.7 million) to Nantes for Emiliano Sala is expected to be heard next spring.

The appeal will go before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne although a final decision is not expected expected before June 2020, the tribunal said in a statement Thursday.

The Argentine, 28, died when the light aircraft he was travelling in from France to Britain crashed into the English Channel in January.

Cardiff and Nantes were unable to reach an amicable conclusion on the financial aspects of the move, so the case came before the Players' Status Committee of FIFA.

The world governing body announced on September 30 that Cardiff must pay an initial six million euros to the French club.