Hatem Ben Arfa Has a Bad Attitude

By: Laurie | October 27th, 2008

Let’s say you’re a talented player with a history of conflict with teammates and a reputation for having a bit of an attitude. You are left out of the starting lineup despite having scored in the past three games. Do you:

A) Do everything you can to show by your behavior that you deserve that starting spot next time? Or
B) Refuse to even warm up to sub in because you’re upset at not being a starter?

If you’re Marseille’s Hatem ben Arfa, the answer is, of course, B.

Ben Arfa wasn’t started last night in Marseille’s “Classico” against Paris St. Germain. The reason given was that he’s coming off an injury and had played in Marseille’s midweek Champions League loss to PSV.

But he apparently decided that if he was too injured to start, he was too injured to play at all. When coach Eric Gerets asked him to warm up for the second half, Ben Arfa refused, claiming une petite gêne à l’adducteur, a small injury to the adductor. (Or, if you prefer the Babelfish translation, “a small embarrassment with the supply main.” I love Babelfish.)

This might not have been such a big deal if Marseille hadn’t given up a 2-1 lead to lose the game 4-2. This to a team that had previously scored just three away goals this season. But now Ben Arfa’s attitude, combined with the loss, has Marseille fans up in arms.

In general, if Ben Arfa has problems, they’re not to do with his skill on the field. (Our Lyon blogger Inara considers him one of the most talented players to come through Lyon’s youth system, perhaps even above everybody’s transfer target, Karim Benzema.) But rumors of personality conflicts and other issues have dogged Ben Arfa, particularly in the past year or so. Stories about issues with Lyon teammates, including Benzema, were suspected to be among the main reasons for both his summer transfer from Lyon to Marseille and his exclusion from France’s Euro 2008 squad.

Now, after being ripped to pieces in the press over the PSG game, Ben Arfa has apologized to his teammates and to Marseille supporters. And coach Gerets says that he has had a long talk with Ben Arfa, and “the problem has been resolved.”

At least until next time.

(For a more detailed account, check out Lyon Offside.)

And below is Eric Geret’s (the coach’s) press conference, where Ben Arfa came in unannounced to make his apology. Whether or not you speak French, watch the body language.

Partial translation:

“I am here to set the record straight,” the former Lyon man told a press conference today, “I was moved to a reaction [yesterday] because I am a competitor. When you are small you dream of playing in matches like that. I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to the coach, the club and the fans.”