PSG outcast Hatem Ben Arfa to sue the club

Paris, Sep 8: After being demoted to the reserve team, PSG attacker Hatem Ben Arfa is reportedly planning to take legal action against his club as per reports from the French media.

The former Newcastle United star rejected the chance to leave the French capital club this summer and has now been dropped from the first-team set-up to play with the club’s second-string side who play in France’s fourth tier.

The Daily Mail claims Ben Arfa’s lawyer, Jean-Jacques Bertrand, says the move breaches Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) rules with his player being denied the required standard of training that was assured in the player’s contract. The paper says Bertrand has given PSG until Friday to reinstate him back into the senior squad or face legal pressures.

Bertrand said:

'Legally, I think the club is violating the Professional Football Charter,' Bertrand told AFP.

'I informed the club by e-mail and advised that we do not accept the situation.

'Depending on the response, we will seek action from the league's disciplinary committee.'

PSG boss Unai Emery suggested in a press conference earlier this week that Ben Arfa could be called into the first-team if needed. However, with the plethora of options, PSG have up front, it seems unlikely that the Frenchman will get too many chances.

However, Bertrand lambasted the Spanish coach for the comment, after Ben Arfa was made to stay and train with the second-string despite a depleted first team during the international week.

“Half of the team are with their national teams and [other] players have been called up from the reserves to complete the group. Obviously, it is not a problem of overstaffing,” Ben Arfa's representative said.

On Wednesday, the French outfit was facing another legal case after being accused of 'financial doping’ by La Liga president Javier Tebas, per BBC Sport.

The former Hull City star’s career has been full of controversies over the years and those who have followed him, will hardly be surprised but in his case, he also has a right to complain.