Ben Arfa as we know was not allowed to play for Nice this season, because he had already played for two clubs this season – 9 games for Hull City and one single game for the Newcastle U21 side, which FIFA said was an official game, as far as they were concerned.
Remie Streete – in action in pre-season at Sheffield Wednesday
Remie’s case seems the same as Ben Arfa’s
And while Nice appealed that decision and even had backing from the English FA – who said they didn’t consider U21 games in England to be official games – FIFA still dismissed the appeal and Ben Arfa announced today he had left Nice.
Remie Street as far as we can see, is in the exact same predicament as the Frenchman, and he’s played three games on loan at Port Vale this season, and a number of games for the Newcastle U21 side – certainly more than one.
The Scottish FA like the English FA consider only first team games as official games so as far as we can see – Ben Arfa’s case and Remie Streete’s case are exactly the same.
We are almost certain the Remie Streete loan move will be invalidated by FIFA, and while a player is allowed to register for three clubs in a season, he can only play for two clubs – so Remie could technically register for Rangers FC but not play for their first team this season – but what good is that?
This is what the 20 year-old has said about the loan move:
“It’s all signed from my end.” “I think different federations in different countries have different rules. I know France stopped the Ben Arfa one but from what I’ve read on the internet and been told from my agent the Scottish FA have allowed me to make the transfer. So hopefully it should be fine.”
But the French Football Federation didn’t stop the Ben Arfa loan move – FIFA did – and it would be strange if they don’t step in and stop this one.
Let’s put it this way – if Remie’s loan is allowed then Ben Arfa and Nice would have a strong appeal to FIFA to overturn the ruling that was made against them.
There’s also another case in January that we have just heard about – Chelsea’s 20 year-old midfielder/defender Nathaniel Chalobah played for Chelsea’s U-21 side this season and also four games for the Burnley first team – and therefore a January move to Bordeaux fell through, when it was ruled that he had already played for two clubs.
You would have expected that Newcastle would have approached FIFA and been given the OK on Streete’s loan before the loan was agreed to, and before the transfer window closed last night.
We hope that’s what they did, but if they didn’t then it’s another case of Newcastle not thinking things through thoroughly enough.
Let’s hope the deal stays put, but if it’s disallowed, in retrospect we could have sent 21 year-old Australian International center-back Curtis Goode on loan to Rangers yesterday.
And just like we kept Curtis at the club for cover, we could have kept Remie Streete at Newcastle – since we only have two experienced center-backs in Fab Coloccini and Mike Williamson available for the rest of the season. 🙁
More poor planning be Newcastle.
If it gets overturned and Remie is not allowed to play on loan for Rangers, we could even send him back to Port Vale on loan, and have a clause in there that Newcastle could recall him if Colo or Willo were injured before the end of the season.
We hope the deal is OK for the sake of both Remie and Rangers FC – since the lad is a terrific up-and coming center-back – but we cannot see why it would be OK with there being two precedents already over the last month.
In legal circles precedents are always key.
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138 comments so far
Santon03
Feb 4, 2015 at 4:26 AM
Comment #121Abeid became better player after loaned out same as Sturridge, Lukaku, etc. I hope it will benefit Santon and NUFC.
jimmysmith
Feb 4, 2015 at 4:40 AM
Comment #122C’mon OP, be fair. He won 33 caps for England, while at Newcastle. Which is twice as hard to do than from the usual suspects. He most certainly wasn’t rubbish, and he was highly rated by Sir Bobby. He also played 200 games for us over 8 seasons. The club liked him.
Novocastrian66
Feb 4, 2015 at 5:02 AM
Comment #123Santon; you need to get over it mate. He’s gone and isn’t coming back.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Feb 4, 2015 at 6:56 AM
Comment #124Sounds a bit headstrong parting company because of knee surgery 😉
…but if you are to part company anyway this sounds much less dramatic! Would hopefully see the last of ‘Arry in the PL.
Lilongwe Geordie
Feb 4, 2015 at 7:03 AM
Comment #125Blackpool and Coventry both after Arma when the loan window reopens.
If he gets to choose reckon he will go for Blackpool with Clarky, although Coventry may be a better choice professionally given Blackpool’s struggles.
Is Nile Ranger still at Blackpool?
Lilongwe Geordie
Feb 4, 2015 at 7:05 AM
Comment #126Jesper,
I can’t decide what is worse for people (although admittedly I needn’t worry bout this) ‘Arry coming back to manage another Prem club (please not us – not that he would come here) or the idea that he will be sat on Sky with Jamie, or getting cosy with Lineker, Lawro and Shearer on the MoTD couch…..
Either way, those poor folk in Blighty haven’t seen the last of him!
firebug666
Feb 4, 2015 at 7:18 AM
Comment #127Arry’ quite simply emptied the pursers safe, stuffed Rosy (the dog)’s bank account full of green backs and jumped from the foundering ship.
Now it’s up to the first mate to try and save it, can he get the crew working together or are they down.
Well one thing’s for certain, it’s nowt to do with Arry’ he’s long gone.
Lilongwe Geordie
Feb 4, 2015 at 7:23 AM
Comment #128Firebug,
The first mate jumped ship with him didn’t he? I read somewhere Hoddle had quit in’s hock’ at ol’ saggychops departure!
Sir Les and Chris Ramsay (either a coach, or the stand up comic both would be applicable at QPR) are now in charge.
firebug666
Feb 4, 2015 at 7:33 AM
Comment #129Lilongwe
Did the first mate jump with Arry’ ? Well I suppose he had to get his share of the Rosy loot, psml.
I hope to god neither of them end up anywhere near us like, neither have the stomach for a fight.
I have a feeling that QPR will disappear for quite some time if they drop this time.
Lilongwe Geordie
Feb 4, 2015 at 7:38 AM
Comment #130Firebug,
Sherwood is the favourite for the job as well. Ha.
Yeah, if they drop then they will be in real trouble. Do they still have sanctions hanging over them about FFP? I remember reading somewhere that if they went down they would be facing a fairly hefty points deduction for their breach last season.
That could be really problematic, as they will struggle to right their finances by next season, meaning a further deduction the following year I’d guess.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Feb 4, 2015 at 7:42 AM
Comment #131Lilongwe…well for everyone’s sake we better get ‘Arry back into management…in the lower leagues 😉
About QPR, I thought Hoddle was a coach and not 1st Lieutenant?
Lilongwe Geordie
Feb 4, 2015 at 7:42 AM
Comment #132I don’t think ‘Arry can be blamed for QPR’s financial woes though, although he certainly didn’t help – remember Samba, £10mill, £100k a week… Hughes did a lot of damage there, as did Warnock.
Really don’t get the love in with ‘Arry that some have. Won 1 trophy in his career, four of the six clubs (will be five if QPR have issues) he has managed have had financial troubles during his tenure, or within 6 months of his departure. Several relegations and just 1 promotion.
Lilongwe Geordie
Feb 4, 2015 at 7:45 AM
Comment #133Jesper,
You could be right on Hoddle, not 100% sure.
I think for any clubs financial sake, ‘Arry shouldn’t be allowed to manage again. He would fail a fit and proper person’s test. Although, if there is a written component, he wouldn’t be able to read the questions, or write the answers as he claimed he could do neither under oath in court.
firebug666
Feb 4, 2015 at 7:45 AM
Comment #134Lilongwe
I believe you are right, about sanctions; I recall something at the time, but it’s QPR so never took that much of an interest in it.
I do know that everyone one at the time were saying that the FFP had hit them the hardest with them only being a small club, As I recall saying that it was self inflicted, they knew the rule and chose to break them.
Not sure on this as I may be mixing them up with another club; but they could start next season in the fizzy pop league with a -10 to -15 points deficit and a transfer embargo. Like I said not sure as it could just be paper talk at the time, or another small club.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Feb 4, 2015 at 7:49 AM
Comment #135Lilongwe…’Arry has been spending money at QPR like they were going out of fashion 😉
…and really poor and expensive buys! There has been no unity or balance in those players brought in.
Maybe he should take a look at Matthew Benham at Brantford…maybe we should as well! lol
Lilongwe Geordie
Feb 4, 2015 at 7:52 AM
Comment #136Firebug,
No that point deficit sounds about right to me from what I remember. The football league have their own sanctions, and they have been much harsher on those breaching the rules. A number of clubs are under transfer embargo’s down there.
The Premier league did nothing in terms of sanctions, and UEFA were almost farcical in theirs.
Lilongwe Geordie
Feb 4, 2015 at 7:54 AM
Comment #137Jesper,
He has, but so did his predecessors. Hughes bought people like SWP in, who just sits there on his lucrative contract, and even refused to go out on loan in Jan.
He has certainly contributed, as he knows no other way to manage, but they shad overspent before him as well.
firebug666
Feb 4, 2015 at 7:59 AM
Comment #138Lilongwe
Well either way good ol’e Arry’ saw this coming and jumped. Guess he can’t affords any more stains on his character.
On another note, I see the 5 Rangers have went to great pains to tell us all they were not forced out of the club to save Rangers.
This is interesting, as come the end of the season most of the Rangers contracts are up. So they will need to buy a new squad especially if they gain promotion.