Ben Arfa banned for European outings

Hatem Ben Arfa will miss the start of Newcastle's Europa League campaign as he serves a European suspension dating back to 2010.

Alan Pardew and his players will fly out to Greece on Wednesday for their first leg of their play-off clash with Atromitos, but the Frenchman will not be with them as he starts a three-match ban incurred during his time at former club Marseille.
The 25-year-old, whose late penalty against Tottenham on Saturday evening got the Magpies off to a winning start in the Barclays Premier League, was sent off in OM's 2-1 home defeat by Benfica in March 2010, which saw them miss out on a place in the Europa League quarter-finals that season.
Ben Arfa joined Newcastle on loan later that year and has had no opportunity since to serve his ban.
As a result, he will miss both legs of the tie against the Greeks and the first game of the group stage if Newcastle progress.