Paris Saint-Germain have been warned by the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) that they will face punishment if they do not reinstate wantaway midfielder Adrien Rabiot within the next 48 hours.
Rabiot has been training with PSG’s reserves since they returned from their mid-season trip to Qatar last week and the 23-year-old, with the UNFP’s help, has since launched an official complaint to the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), sources have confirmed to ESPN FC.
PSG sporting director Antero Henrique declared back in December that Rabiot was “indefinitely benched” as a “consequence” of his decision to not sign a contract extension with his formative club.
“The player informed me that he will not be signing a new contract and that he wants to leave the club as a free agent at the end of the season [also the end of his contract],” the Portuguese told Yahoo Sports France. “For the player, the consequences are clear — he is indefinitely benched.”
However, Rabiot has now taken his matter to the LFP via the UNFP citing article 507 of the professional footballers’ charter and sources have confirmed that the case is now under the LFP’s consideration.
The UNFP have been behind Rabiot’s decision from the start and legal director Stephane Burchkalter told Goal France that PSG have 48 hours to reinstate their youth academy graduate as a member of Thomas Tuchel’s senior squad and also referenced last season’s episode with Hatem Ben Arfa.
“Reinstatement must take place within 48 hours,” said Burchkalter. “If not, PSG are exposed to potential sanctions.
“Legally, PSG have no right to banish Adrien Rabiot to the reserves. They also had no right to do the same to Hatem Ben Arfa last season.
“I do not want to imagine what might happen if this is not done within 48 hours, but we will be vigilant — if necessary.”
Burchkalter wants Rabiot to be given the opportunity to train and prove his worth, which is something that Tuchel is currently unable to do.
The German tactician said at last Friday’s news conference ahead of the 9-0 Ligue 1 thrashing of Guingamp that he is under orders from his superiors to not utilise Rabiot.
“We want that the player is provided with the correct training conditions, so able to train normally, and to play by the rules,” said Burchkalter. “If PSG continue to circumvent these very clear rules, then it can be interpreted as discriminatory.
“It would be similar to harassment, which is criminally wrong and must be dealt with immediately.”
According to sources close to PSG, Rabiot’s decision to involve the UNFP and LFP comes after he announced his desire to see out the remainder of the season before leaving on a free transfer — something the Ligue 1 leaders suspect stems from Barcelona being unwilling to pay the fee the club is seeking.