Missing Cardiff City FC footballer Emiliano Sala’s body from the wreckage of the plane, which crashed in the English Channel, has been formally identified by Dorset Police. "The body brought to Portland Port today ... has been formally identified by HM Coroner for Dorset as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala,” Dorset police said in a statement.

The statement continued: "the families of Mr Sala and the pilot, David Ibbotson, have been updated with this news and will continue to be supported by specially-trained family liaison officers. Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time," CNN reported.

Police also said that they will continue to investigate the "circumstances of this death.” Sala, 28, and Ibbotson, 59, were flying in the single-turbine aircraft from Nantes, in northern France, to Cardiff in Wales, when it disappeared from radar near the Channel Islands on January 21.

Meanwhile, Cardiff City, issued a statement shortly after identification was confirmed, saying: "We offer our most heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family of Emiliano. He and David will forever remain in our thoughts.”

Here's the Tweet by Cardiff City FC:

The Argentine striker had recently signed with English Premier League club Cardiff City for a reported $19.3 million from French club Nantes and was heading to the Welsh capital after saying farewell to his former team-mates in France.

Wreckage from the plane carrying the footballer was found on Sunday by a privately funded search team working in close coordination with the AAIB. The same day, the AAIB had also begun a three-day underwater search of an area of four square nautical miles off the island of Guernsey. Last week, Cardiff City and Nantes both held emotional tributes to Sala before their matches.

(With IANS inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 08, 2019 10:25 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).