UEFA faces major blunder involving Algerian star Rachid Ghezzal

European football’s governing body, UEFA, has found itself in hot water following a significant administrative mistake involving Algerian forward Rachid Ghezzal.

After returning to Olympique Lyonnais on a free transfer in early September and being officially named in their Europa League squad, Ghezzal played a pivotal role, notably assisting the winning goal against Utrecht. However, shockingly, he was subsequently dropped from the Lyon European roster.

Reports from French outlets highlight that while Ghezzal was initially registered according to UEFA rules, the organization later ruled his registration invalid, claiming Lyon missed the deadline for player inclusion. The ruling left Ghezzal and the club scrambling, with the winger notified his European campaign was over.

Despite the error, Dutch side Utrecht, beaten by Lyon, could not appeal, as eligibility protests must be filed within 24 hours after the final whistle. Ghezzal, a Lyon academy graduate, has enjoyed a robust career across Europe, featuring for Monaco, Leicester City, Fiorentina, and making significant contributions in Turkey.

Since his return, Ghezzal has featured in four matches, tallying just one assist in limited appearances. Lyon’s season continues amid drama, but fans warmly welcomed their talented alumnus back, hoping he’ll inspire further successes in the Ligue 1 campaign.