An FA Cup red card will still be applied despite the West Ham star’s January transfer.
The intrigue surrounding Said Benrahma’s loan move to Lyon doesn’t seem to be finished yet. After failing to score in 22 games for the Hammers this season, West Ham announced that the Algerian winger would be spending the rest of the campaign on loan in France.
The transfer deadline was not met, though, and Lyon proceeded to accuse West Ham of “incomprehensible” behavior, threatening to take their case before FIFA, the world governing body. Although the Hammers have not yet responded to the accusations, club officials are reportedly incensed at what they see as false and possibly harmful assertions.
Benrahma was therefore not registered and could not participate in the Ligue 1 club’s 1-0 victory over Marseille due to the transfer’s delay. Now, though, there is even greater disappointment as the 28-year-old will miss the team’s last-16 French Cup match against LOSC.
The winger was sent off in West Ham’s FA Cup loss to Bristol City, which is the reason for the most recent delay in his debut. Lyon had to wait for the French FA’s approval before adding the Algerian to their roster, which took longer than normal because the club was also being watched by the French financial authority.
In determining which two matches Benrahma had served his red card in, it was decided that the 1-1 tie between West Ham and Bournemouth qualified, but the match between Lyon and Marseille did not since he was not formally listed in the French team’s roster.
Benrahma’s chance to play for Lyon on Sunday, February 11 against Montpellier on the French south coast appears to have finally arrived.
Benrahma’s transfer to Lyon has a summer permanent option; David Moyes will use the loan money to help pay for Kalvin Phillips’ short-term move to the London Stadium. Phillips and the Hammers will be ready to welcome Arsenal this Sunday in an attempt to pass Manchester United and take sixth place, while the Algerian is getting ready to play Montpellier this weekend.
