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Police make two arrests after image of Sala's body was posted on social media

Two people have been arrested after an image of deceased footballer Emiliano Sala's body had been posted on social media.

Dorset police announced on Saturday an investigation would be launched following the discovery of the image online.

- Borden: In search of Emiliano Sala

"On Feb. 7 2019, a post mortem examination of Emiliano Sala was conducted at Holly Tree Lodge Mortuary in Dorset," a police statement read. "On Feb. 13, Dorset Police became aware of an image on Twitter purporting to show the post mortem of Emiliano, and an investigation was launched.

"The image had been swiftly removed by Twitter, but unfortunately it had been circulated extensively on various social media sites by this time. As part of the enquiries by Dorset Police, a warrant was obtained for an address in Wiltshire and, on Feb. 18, this warrant was executed by officers from the Digital Investigations & Intelligence Unit within Wiltshire Police.

"A 48-year-old woman from Corsham was arrested at the scene on suspicion of unauthorised access to computer material [an offence under the Computer Misuse Act] and malicious communications, and is currently released on conditional bail.

"As the police investigation continued, a 62-year-old man from Calne was also arrested on suspicion of unauthorised access to computer material, and is currently released under investigation."

The single-engined Piper Malibu aircraft carrying Sala, 28, disappeared over the English Channel when flying him from previous club Nantes to Cardiff on Jan. 21.

Wreckage was found on Feb. 3 following a privately-funded underwater search and a body was recovered three days later. Later that month Sala's body was flown back to Argentina for his funeral.

It has been a very difficult period for the Sala family with Emiliano's father Horacio passing away following a sudden heart attack on Friday.

Cardiff and Nantes remain in a dispute over Sala's transfer after the Premier League side refused to make the first scheduled payment for the Argentine.

The Bluebirds argue the agreement struck with Nantes regarding Sala's purchase was not legal as the French club failed to fulfill conditions they set.

FIFA has granted Cardiff City and Nantes extra time to submit full details of the transfer of Sala as the clubs look to schedule face-to-face talks.

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