Appeal comes down on Arsenal side

By European Football
October 31 2005

The Court of Arbitration for Sport have rejected an appeal by Olympique Marseille this afternoon, and ruled that their former midfielder Mathieu Flamini will be allowed to play for Arsenal.

Marseille had been upset that Flamini, who had been a product of their youth program, had refused to sign a professional contract with the French side, electing instead to join Arsenal in July 2004.

In what then turned into a bitter feud the French FA refused to issue Flamini's international certificate and the case was submitted to FIFA.

But the court ruled:

"The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed the appeal filed by Olympique de Marseille and has confirmed the authorisation granted by FIFA to Arsenal FC to register the player Mathieu Flamini," the CAS said on their website.

"The CAS has also confirmed the training compensation of $480,000 allocated to Olympique de Marseille by FIFA."