Ben Arfa Transfer Saga Continues as LFP Official Sparks Controversy
By BBC Sport France
Nice – January 2015
Hatem Ben Arfa’s move to OGC Nice remains in limbo as legal complications stall the former Newcastle United midfielder’s debut with the Ligue 1 club. The French international has found himself at the centre of a growing controversy surrounding FIFA regulations and a provocative comment by a senior football official.
Ben Arfa signed for Nice earlier this month, but has yet to be cleared to play due to a dispute over his eligibility. According to FIFA rules, a player may not appear in official matches for more than two clubs in a single season. Ben Arfa featured for Newcastle’s under-21 side before a brief stint at Hull City in the Premier League — a detail that could count as two separate appearances under strict interpretation of the regulations.
On Monday, as Ben Arfa awaited FIFA’s verdict, André Soulier, president of the LFP (French Professional Football League) legal committee, stirred controversy by making ironic remarks about the player’s situation.
“I didn’t have the pleasure of seeing him — perhaps because there weren’t any TV cameras around, as there were on Sunday evening,” Soulier said. “He certainly has the means to support himself during this period of ‘unemployment’. If FIFA says no, he just has to wait a few months. After all, he has a contract with Nice. I wish all unemployed people in France had a contract in their pocket.”
The comment, widely perceived as dismissive, sparked an immediate response from Ben Arfa’s legal representative, Jean-Jacques Bertrand.
“His ironic remarks are surprising,” Bertrand told reporters. “The principles of law apply to everyone, whether rich or poor. And even if FIFA’s decision is negative, we will appeal. We will not let this go unchallenged.”
The impasse has left Ben Arfa unable to contribute on the pitch for Nice, despite signing a deal that was intended to revive his career in France. The former Lyon and Marseille playmaker had hoped to use the move as a fresh start after a difficult spell in English football.
The legal wrangling now rests on how FIFA interprets his participation in a Newcastle U21 match, and whether it constitutes official competitive play. If FIFA rules against him, Ben Arfa may be forced to sit out the remainder of the season.
For now, the saga continues, with both sides preparing for a prolonged legal battle should the governing body’s decision go against the player.
