Lyon release furious statement slamming West Ham over failed Benrahma transfer
Lyon have accused West Ham of "incomprehensible behaviour" and a "profound lack of respect" after Said Benrahma’s loan move collapsed late last night.
The Ligue 1 club, owned by Crystal Palace minor shareholder John Textor, say that the Hammers did not complete their admin on FIFA’s transfer matching system despite repeated reminders.
And Real Betis, who were set to sign Pablo Fornals from West Ham, now claim that technical errors meant that move was also not completed in time. They, too, are seeing if a deal could still be approved.
Both Lyon and Betis are exploring appeals to FIFA to ensure the deals can be waved through but it is unclear if the governing body will make such an exception.
A West Ham spokesperson confirmed the Benrahma move was “not concluded ahead of the deadline, with a deal unable to be completed before 11pm."
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However, a furious Lyon said: "Olympique Lyonnais deeply regretted the failure of Benrahma's transfer, for reasons beyond his control, and questioned West Ham's behaviour in failing to finalise the required administrative procedures, despite all the agreements made.
"The two clubs had signed a temporary transfer agreement. However, early in the evening, while Olympique Lyonnais had entered all the administrative data on FIFA's dedicated platform, FIFA TMS, West Ham had never initiated the slightest technical procedure of their own, despite repeated reminders from OL and continuous mutual telephone communication.
"In the absence of this reciprocal action from the English club and due to this incomprehensible behaviour, raising questions, the international transfer certificate could not be requested before the deadline.
"Olympique Lyonnais deeply regrets this situation and this decision, which shows a profound lack of respect on the part of West Ham towards both the Institution and the player.
"The club reserves the right to initiate all procedures to validate the transaction after the event, and to hold West Ham responsible if necessary."
West Ham’s alleged admin hiccup may have been complicated by the fact that they were in Premier League action as the deadline approached - drawing 1-1 at home to Bournemouth.
Algerian winger Benrahma had already completed his medical at Lyon but Fornals, who was initially set to feature in the match, watched on from the tunnel after a Betis bid was received a couple of hours before the deadline.
It remains unclear if Pablo Fornals has successfully joined Real Betis. (Vincent Mignott/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)Manager David Moyes questioned the wisdom of playing on deadline day after West Ham also faced the same issue, with a trip to Luton, in the final hours of the summer window.
Speaking less than an hour before the window closed, Moyes said: "I don’t want to be moaning about it but you would think it could have been wrapped up last night.
"It’s our own fault but in this country the culture is we do so many deals on the last day. Really, you should be doing deals on the first day, not the last day.
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“I know Said is in France for a medical but couldn’t tell you if they are done or not. It’s strange to have a game and the deadline, especially when it looks like we’ve possibly done late business. We were planning to have Pablo involved tonight. He might still be here, who knows, I don’t know if it will be completed.”
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