Flamini fault lies with l'OM

Mathieu Flamini's lawyer feels Marseille only have themselves to blame.

The 21-year-old joined The Gunners in the summer of 2004 but Marseille were unhappy with what they perceived to be a poaching of Flamini.

The French outfit appealed to Fifa, and then the Court of Arbitration for Sport, in the hope of having the transfer rubbed out.

But the CAS' ruling only awarded Marseille compensation of £272,000 after they did not offer Flamini a professional contract, despite the player coming through the youth set-up.

Marseille feel the decision could have a damaging impact on French teams, who educate their own players, only to lose them to foreign clubs.

Flamini's lawyer, though, feels that viewpoint does not ring true in this instance and says l'OM are at fault for their own unhappiness.

"It is completely false to say that Flamini's case imperils the French education," said Flamini's brief.

"L'OM forgot a rule of the French football charter which is the club must propose a contract to the player.

"L'OM made a mistake. That is why Fifa came out in our favour and the CAS confirmed the appeal.

"There is no comparison with the [Momo] Sissoko or [Charles] N'Zogbia stories.

"In those two cases, Auxerre and Le Havre made contract propositions. That is why the CAS set an education fee and a transfer fee."