Ben Arfa could be fined over strike

Marseille’s want-away winger Hatem Ben Arfa could be fined for going on strike in a bid to force a move away from the club, sporting director Jose Anigo said on Friday.

Ben Arfa, 23, has not trained for a week and did not feature in Marseille’s 3-2 defeat at Valenciennes last weekend because he is upset at what he sees as the club’s attempts to prevent him leaving.

“You can want to leave a club, of course, but not coming into training exposes you to financial punishments, which will be the case for him,” said Anigo at a press conference.

“It’s not a normal thing, even if there are differences between us.”

Ben Arfa was told he could leave the club in June and was believed to be on the verge of a loan move to English Premier League side Newcastle, but Marseille changed their stance after selling striker Mamadou Niang to Fenerbahce.

Ben Arfa has vowed to “put my career on hold” while he engineers a move away from the French champions.

German side Werder Bremen are also reported to be interested in signing the France international.