Welsh football club Cardiff City are reportedly considering a negligence claim against French side FC Nantes over the death of striker Emiliano Sala.

The Telegraph newspaper reports that the club are waiting for the results of an interim report from the UK Air Accidents Investigations Bureau.

The report is expected as soon as next week.

The 28-year-old died in a private plane crash over the English Channel last month – just days after he completed his club record club record £15m (€17.2m) move from FC Nantes.

His funeral service was held in the town of Progreso in the province of Santa Fé, Argentina yesterday.

Nantes defender Nicolas Pallois and family and friends of Argentina soccer player Emiliano Sala carry his coffin during his funeral in Progreso, Argentina, 16-02-2019. Image: AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko

According to The Telegraph, Cardiff have frozen all payments to the French club until it is established how he died and whether anyone should be held responsible.

The club is waiting to find out whether pilot David Ibbotson – who is still missing – held the necessary licence to carry passengers on a commercial basis.

They believe that, if he didn’t, it could constitute negligence on the part of whoever arranged the flight.

Football agents Willie and Mark McKay have said they arranged the flight but did not select the plane or pilot. They were working on behalf of FC Nantes.

Flowers are laid on Emiliano Sala’s coffin, 16-02-2019. Image: Mario De Fina/dpa

Earlier, Sala’s cousin Martin Gatti said someone needs to take responsibility for his death.

He told reporters he thought the player was "forced" on to the single-engine plane, and claimed there were "irregularities" in the crash.

"They can't say a plane just crashed and they both died and that's it... I have seen many irregularities from the beginning," he said.

"I think Emiliano was forced to board that plane, made to board a plane that was not in good condition, with a pilot who wasn't prepared, alone, and at night. Where were his representatives?

"If you happen to be the most important player ever sold in the history of the club (French club Nantes), they could have at least have taken care of him, at the very least they should have taken care of him."

Cardiff City Manager Neil Warnock and CEO Ken Choo attended Sala’s funeral in Argentina yesterday.