Lyon now owe West Ham United apology despite ‘incomprehensible behaviour’ on Deadline Day
West Ham have certainly upset many clubs over the years, both on and off the pitch, with French side Lyon their latest victims.
The Ligue 1 outfit launched quite an attack on the Hammers after the former’s Deadline Day move for Said Benrahma seemingly collapsed.
As per the official Lyon website (2 February), the two clubs had agreed on a loan deal for the winger, but West Ham did not go ahead with the technical aspect of the transfer.
That action from the Premier League outfit did not go down well, with the French giants noting on their website: “In the absence of this reciprocal action on the part of the English club and following this incomprehensible behaviour, raising questions, the international transfer certificate could not be requested before closing time.
“Olympique Lyonnais deeply regrets this situation and this decision, demonstrating a profound lack of respect on the part of West Ham towards the Institution and the player.”
But it seems that the seven-time league champions now owe the Premier League club a huge apology, with Lyon CEO Laurent Prud’Homme officially confirming that FIFA has just validated the request for an international transfer certificate for Benrahma to move to the French club [Ben Jacobs, 2 February].
Even though they have now got the man they wanted, an apology from Lyon seems very unlikely, with the French outfit perhaps going to argue that their very firm stance has since forced the Hammers into making sure the deal has gone through as planned.
Lyon’s desperate need to sign an attacker comes as no surprise, with the club currently in the relegation play-off spot in the Ligue 1 table. They occupy 16th place, just a point above Clermont Foot in 17th and three points off rock-bottom Lorient.
With the margins for success and failure now so narrow in the modern game, the signature of attacker Benrahma really could make a big difference to Lyon’s survival chances.
The winger has certainly not been at his best this season, but he hasn’t exactly been given regular playing time by David Moyes. The switch to France could kick-start both his and Lyon’s season.
In other West Ham news, a Hammers exit deal broke down after an offer was made, with a manager rejection detailed.
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