Hatem Ben Arfa's father has attempted to headbutt the Newcastle United player's agent as he attended a French Footballing Federation (FFF) disciplinary meeting follow a testing Euro 2012 campaign.
Laurent Blanc's side was beset by in-fighting throughout the tournament, and four players in question - Ben Arfa, SamirNasri, Yann M'Vila and Jeremy Menez - will have their evidence heard by a committee on Friday.
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JC DANREE | GOAL.COM FRANCE Samir Nasri, Hatem Ben Arfa, Yann M’Vila and Jérémy Ménez were convoked this Friday to the Disciplinary Committee in regard to their behaviour during Euro 2012. Nasri has had troubles with the press, as shown by his reaction after his goal against England and his altercation with a journalist following France’s exit from the tournament. The Ben Arfa case is different. He reacted inappropriately after the game against Sweden, talking on his phone and he didn’t accept Laurent Blanc’s comments. What’s more, there have been problems between Ben Arfa’s father and his agent for a long time, which resulted in today’s altercation. Lastly, M’Vila showed a poor attitude when replaced by Giroud against Spain, and Ménez insulted the the game's referee. These problems have worsened the French image, which was already very negative after 2010 World Cup and the Knysna episode. |
Nasri faces the strongest charges for both his goal celebration against England and his foul-mouthed tirade at the press in the aftermath of the defeat to Spain. Ben Arfa is being asked to explain his altercation with Blanc in the changing room at half-time of that match.
Rennes midfielder M'Vila is accountable for refusing to shake the hand of both the coach and Olivier Giroud after being substituted during that game while Menez's misdemeanours seem the smallest, after he was caught swearing at goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris.
Outside the hearing, Ben Arfa's father bizarrely launched a verbal attack at his son's agent, Michel Ouazine, reportedly screaming: "You stole my son, you stole my son! You have robbed me of my son!"
After the incident had finished, Ben Arfa senior spoke of his reasoning behind the stinging war of words between the two men.
"I haven’t seen my son for five months now. I came here to see him and support him in this matter. I just want my son back," he told reporters.
The Newcastle midfielder's agent went on to claim that it was more than just words that the player's father had aimed at him during their confrontation.
"Hatem’s dad tried to headbutt me, but I dodged him," Ouazine told AFP.
"He then pushed me from behind. Hatem has not been talking to his dad for quite a while now. He should have a bit of dignity, and leave this kind of madness."