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Hatem Ben Arfa says life just isn’t fair

9 years ago
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Hatem Ben Arfa has spoken of his frustration at being denied the chance to play football, following the agreement being reached with Newcastle United to release him from his contract.

The midfielder has been prevented from appearing for new club Nice as FIFA have advised that an under 21 match for Newcastle against Reading counts as a competitive match, meaning that taking into account his loan spell at Hull, Ben Arfa has already played for two clubs – the maximum allowed in a season.

However, there is a glimmer of light for Hatem, on Tuesday the FFF (French Football Federation) are looking at the matter again.

Until then though Hatem Ben Arfa is not a happy man…;

“I don’t understand why they would try to stop me from playing football in France – my home.

“Why do they always try to create problems where there are none?

“I have only one desire and that is to play again on the pitches of Ligue 1, to have fun with my new team-mates, then to give pleasure to the fans who have welcomed me as always.”

His critics will say that as usual it is always somebody else’s fault but it is ridiculous that playing a reserve match could in any way count as having played competitively for your club.

It is not all bad news for Nice as since Hatem Ben Arfa’s ‘arrival’ they have won both matches, 3-1 at home to Lorient and 2-1 away at Bordeaux this weekend just gone, climbing to tenth place in the table but only four points off the top six.

If Hatem is given the green light to play after Tuesday’s FFF meeting, then it would set up an interesting potential return match for the player, as Friday night sees the player’s old team Marseille visiting Nice, currently sitting one point off the top of the table.

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