Ben Arfa’s Move to Nice in Jeopardy Due to FIFA Rule
Hatem Ben Arfa’s much-anticipated return to French football with OGC Nice is facing a serious obstacle. Despite being named in Claude Puel’s squad for the upcoming match against Lorient, the French club has announced that Ben Arfa is currently ineligible to play, due to FIFA regulations.
At issue is a FIFA rule prohibiting players from appearing for more than two clubs in the same season. Ben Arfa began the 2014–15 season at Newcastle United, where he featured in a U21 match in August, before being loaned out to Hull City, where he made several Premier League appearances.
Now that he’s signed with OGC Nice, that youth match with Newcastle is being considered by the French Football Federation (FFF) as an official appearance — meaning the player may have technically already featured for three clubs this season, which violates FIFA’s Article 5.3 on player eligibility.
However, there’s still hope for Ben Arfa. According to RMC, the English Football Association (FA) has argued that the Newcastle U21 game does not qualify as an official match, as it was played in a development league. If the FFF accepts that argument, Newcastle may not count as one of the clubs for this season, clearing Ben Arfa to play.
The final decision now lies with FFF president Noël Le Graët and the relevant regulatory bodies, who must interpret FIFA’s stance on the case. Until then, Ben Arfa and Nice must wait, once again caught in the uncertainty that has so often defined the player’s rollercoaster career.
