Cardiff City have until the end of today to submit their case to FIFA over the Emiliano Sala transfer fee wrangle.
The highly complicated matter centres around whether Sala was a Cardiff or Nantes player at the time of the plane tragedy on January 21.
The Bluebirds are withholding payment on the £15million Sala transfer fee, while the French club are demanding the money and have asked FIFA to intervene.
Here's the current state of affairs and what is likely to happen next.
WHY FIFA ARE INVOLVED
Nantes complained to the world governing body after not receiving the first £5m installment of the Sala fee, which was due on February 20.
Nantes' lawyers wrote to Cardiff on February 5 asking for the first of three annual payments to be paid within 10 working days. That was extended until February 20 but, with no money received, Nantes took the matter to FIFA.
The Bluebirds are withholding any payments at the moment until they receive full disclosure on the facts surrounding Sala's eligibility to have played for them and further details of the plane crash.
Having offered Sala a British Airways flight to the UK, Cardiff want to know why he was travelling on the small Piper-Malibu plane that crashed, and why he was being flown in the evening.
Reports which emerged at the week, claiming pilot David Ibbotson was not qualified to fly at night, have clouded the issue even further.
Agent Willie McKay has previously confirmed he arranged Sala's flight - though not the actual plane or pilot - and Cardiff want to know more about his tie-up with Nantes.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF APRIL 3
Cardiff have been asked by FIFA to present their side of the story - their case - by close of play on Wednesday, April 3.
A detailed document has been put together by the Bluebirds' Cardiff-based lawyers Capital Law, with Chris Nott heading up their case.
He has represented Vincent Tan and the Bluebirds in a previous case against former owner Sam Hammam and is a director of the Cardiff Blues rugby team.
WILL CARDIFF COMPLY WITH FIFA?
They will, one way or the other. We understand Cardiff's hierarchy, in conjunction with Nott, have put together what they feel is a compelling case.
They were working hard to put the final touches to it in time for close of business on Tuesday, but may yet ask for a small extension before sending over the paperwork.
If they do, and FIFA grant it, we will only be talking a matter of days.
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THE CARDIFF CASE
Cardiff's argument centres around whether Sala was actually their player on the day of the tragedy, Monday January 21, despite unveiling the Argentine striker as a Bluebird just two days earlier.
Cardiff stressed upon announcing Sala as their club record signing that it was subject to clearance from the authorities. Four criteria needed to be ticked for that and it is Cardiff's contention they weren't. You can read the full details on those four criteria here
Cardiff are thought to possess documentation from the Premier League confirming Sala was not eligible to play the next game away to Arsenal because of an issue over personal terms.
Sala is understood to wanted his signing-on fee up-front, but Premier League rules dictate signing-on fees are paid in installments over the course of a contract.
Cardiff were told to renegotiate with Sala, which they intended to do but, of course, tragically never had the opportunity.
It is Cardiff's contention that Sala could have said no to the new terms and headed abroad, which he was free to do so.
The Bluebirds' lawyers have football examples of transfers breaking down over an 11th hour personal terms hitch and are presenting those cases to FIFA.
Cardiff will tell FIFA that the non-fulfilment of legally-binding clauses in the transfer agreement they struck with Nantes made the deal invalid.
Friends and family pay respects at Emiliano Sala's funeral in Argentina
WHO LOOKS AT THE MATTER FOR FIFA?
This is not entirely clear, but this dispute is an unprecedented case and thus it is likely FIFA president Gianni Infantino will want to be involved. He has already spoken publicly about the matter.
FIFA do things by committee and it is likely to be looked at by the Players’ Status Committee, which "monitors compliance with the regulations on the status and transfer of players".
There are 24 FIFA council members on the committee, including 73-year-old former English FA chairman Geoff Thompson, who has detailed knowledge of the workings of the Premier League.
The committee chair is former South African FA chief executive Raymond Hack. His deputy is Mahfuza Akhter from Bangladesh, one of the most high-powered women in football.
It is almost certain a small sub-group, called the Dispute Resolution Chamber, will investigate before making a recommendation to the full 24-person committee. The sub group provide arbitration and dispute resolution on the basis of equal representation of players and clubs.
However, don't expect a speedy resolution. It could be a couple of months before FIFA reach a decision.
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WILL THEY FIND AGAINST CARDIFF?
Cardiff have put together a strong case, but their complication will be that they fast-tracked through the Sala announcement on Saturday, January 19 - just two hours after an abject 3-0 loss at Newcastle - something intended to give despondent Bluebirds fans some cheer.
The tragedy happened two days later, when the light aircraft crashed into the English Channel after departing from Nantes, headed for Cardiff.
However, as already stated, Cardiff made it clear the transfer was subject to the relevant clearance from the authorities and they contend they did not have that.
WILL CARDIFF PAY IF ORDERED TO?
Probably, yes. They have always said they will "do the right and proper thing", although there is an appeal process they could go through.
As could Nantes, of course, if the FIFA ruling goes against them.
A more likely scenario could be a compromise, with Cardiff paying just over half, Nantes writing off the rest and the two clubs agreeing to put money into a Sala trust fund.
But it wouldn't end there. The issue of insurance would need to be looked at, for Cardiff, Nantes and whether there was public liability insurance for the plane's owners.
If Mr Ibbotson was not qualified to fly at night, that could cause issues for the insurers. We also await the full findings into the crash from the UK Air Accident Investigation Branch.
Contrary to previous reports about a Premier League points deduction, the Bluebirds are dismissive of that suggestion.
