When Paperwork Misses the Ball: UEFA’s Blunder Involving Rachid Ghazal and Lyon’s Europa Dream
23 October 2025
Ghazal’s Return, a Glitch in the System
UEFA’s governing body found itself tangled in an unusual administrative error involving Algerian forward Rachid Ghazal, a Lyon academy product and returnee who was listed in Lyon’s Europa League squad.
Ghazal, 33, rejoined Olympique Lyonnais on a free transfer in early September and appeared in Lyon’s European squad for the Europa League, only to be excluded after UEFA confirmed the registration deadline had passed.
French outlet GFFN described the exclusion as a strange twist, with UEFA bearing responsibility for the oversight.
Ghazal did provide a decisive assist in Lyon’s 1-0 win over Utrecht in the group stage, but this would reportedly be his last appearance of the first phase in the Europa League.
Lequipe noted that although Ghazal was added to Lyon’s list and took part in the competition, UEFA clarified that the registration should never have happened because the European lists had closed, and Ghazal was informed of his exclusion from the squad.
Standings, Stakes, and the Aftermath
Alongside the paperwork drama, Lyon’s owner club announced Ghazal’s return with a view to leveraging his experience to boost the team’s early-season momentum, while hinting at a continued role beyond this stint.
Since coming back, Ghazal has played four games for Lyon—one in the Europa League and three in Ligue 1—totaling 71 minutes and recording one assist, according to Transfermarkt’s estimates.
French Ligue 1 standings for the 2025-2026 season
Marseille dominated the table with 18 points after a 6-2 thrashing of Le Havre, while Paris Saint-Germain drew 3-3 with Strasbourg in the opening weekend. Monaco and Lyon split results, with Monaco drawing 1-1 against Angers and Lyon losing 2-3 to Nice.
PSG sits second on 17 points, Strasbourg third on 16, Lyon fourth on 15, and Monaco fifth on 14, with Lens close behind as the round eight matches approach.
In European action, PSG crushed Bayer Leverkusen 7-2 away, Marseille fell 1-2 to Sporting Lisbon, and Monaco drew with Tottenham at home. Lyon will host Basel in the Europa League, while Strasbourg face Jagiellonia in the Conference League.
Beyond the administrative drama, the 24-hour deadline rule meant there was no room for an appeal after the match, sealing Ghazal’s status for the European stage this time around.
Legend has it Ghazal began at Lyon’s academy in 1992 and progressed to the first team by 2012, amassing 119 appearances and helping the club to a strong finish in the French league during the 2015-2016 season. His career later included stints with Monaco, Leicester City, Fiorentina, and appearances for Algeria’s national team in 22 matches, scoring twice. In Turkey, he appeared for Besiktas and Rizespor, registering 42 goals and 56 assists across 370 league appearances.
Lyon’s official welcome stressed that Ghazal’s experience could help the club’s push this season, and the club signaled interest in a continued relationship beyond his playing days within the club’s walls.
From a competitive standpoint, Lyon’s four appearances this season—with one European start and three Ligue 1 outings—have still left Ghazal’ imprint in the squad’s narrative, even if the European chapter remains closed for now.
Punchlines to brighten the field:
Punchline 1: If deadlines were players, this transfer window would still be running laps.
Punchline 2: Ghazal’s paperwork might need its own agent—talk about chasing the calendar for minutes!
