THREE Saints fans have been fined for making aeroplane gestures following the death of footballer Emiliano Sala.

The trio were caught making the taunts midway through the first half during Cardiff City’s visit to St Mary’s on 9 February.

Sala died in tragic circumstances when the aircraft he was travelling on from Nantes to Wales crashed into the sea on 21 January.

The Argentine was on his way to Cardiff having just completed a £15m transfer from Ligue 1 to the Premier League.

As well as all being fined, one of the supporters was also handed a four-year football banning order.

Supporters from Saints and Cardiff reported the incident to the police.

James Downey, 47, or Southlands Way, Shoreham-by-Sea, admitted to making a “forward diving motion” that mimicked an aeroplane and was fined £520.

Fellow Saints fan, Jake Carman, 49, of Deacon Road, Southampton, revealed he was “just being stupid” which saw him given a £635 fine, with Mark Ferrett, 53, or Romsey Road, Lockerley, claiming he had “let myself down and the club down”. Ferrett was fined £427.

Both Carman and Ferrett are contesting their football banning orders.

Andrew Darbyshire, Hampshire Constabulary’s football officer, said the trio were a “small minority whose behaviour goes over the line”.