Hatem Ben Arfa Set To Be Sacked By Lille After Dressing Room Row With Manager Jocelyn Gourvennec
The former Newcastle winger has found himself in hot water yet again.
Hatem Ben Arfa is set to be sacked by Lille following a dressing room row with manager Jocelyn Gourvennec.
Former Newcastle and Hull City winger Ben Arfa was expelled from the senior Lille squad earlier this week after clashing with Gourvennec after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Bordeaux.
Ben Arfa is alleged to have told Gourvennec: “We’re playing too deep here. We’re not playing like a team that’s challenging for Europe. This isn’t Guingamp!”
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Gourvennec, 50, has previously managed Guincamp twice.
French outlet RMC Sport claims Ben Arfa has been summoned to a pre-dismissal interview at Lille.
The 35-year-old, who only joined the French club on a free transfer in January, is now expected to have his contract terminated.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Gourvennec referenced an “incident” in which “a player had behaved inappropriately in the dressing room after the match”.
“We do some things well, others less, we win games or not, we play one way or another, that's another thing, but ethics are important to me,” he added.
“It's been 34 years that I am in the world of football and I have never seen that.”
Ben Arfa responded to those comments with a post on Instagram.
“Your problem is incompetence. #allezlelosc We are not playing relegation,” it read.
Former France international Ben Arfa has been criticised for a lack of discipline throughout his professional career.
He is now set to leave Lille, having played nine games for the club without scoring.
Rory O'Callaghan