Search for missing footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot Dave Ibbotson called off

The search for missing Cardiff City player Emiliano Sala and pilot Dave Ibbotson has been called off after a light aircraft they were travelling in went missing.

Crews have scoured thousands of miles of water in the English Channel after the plane disappeared off radar on Monday evening.

Sala, who had just signed a £15m deal with the Bluebirds, was travelling to Cardiff from Nantes on a Piper PA-46 Malibu with pilot Dave Ibbotson.

Emiliano Sala's sister Romina arrived in Cardiff on Thursday and told a press conference she feels "they are alive.. that they are well" and pleaded for the search to continue.

“Emiliano is a great fighter - I know he hasn’t given up and he is waiting for us.

“We just want that the search continues.

"I know in my heart Emiliano is still alive somewhere in the Channel Islands."

In a statement issued by Guernsey Police, Harbour Master Captain David Barker said search and rescue crews had searched 1,700 sq miles as well as mobile phone data and satellite imagery.

It added the "chances of survival at this stage are extremely remote".

CI Air Search pilot Mike Tidd told ITV Channel there is "absolutely no chance of finding anybody alive".

FC Nantes, Sala's previous club, tweeted soon after the announcement "Let's keep hope".

"For the family, and for Emiliano, let's keep hope", the club's tweet reads.

Soon after, football clubs across the UK joined in to paid tribute to Sala and Cardiff City:

Floral tributes and a huge banner have been left at the stadium that reads:

"We never saw you play and never saw you score, but Emiliano our beautiful Bluebird we will love you forever more."