Newcastle United star Hatem Ben Arfa is facing legal action from a rap star.

The Daily Mail says Ben Arfa is to be sued after saying he was press-ganged into joining a sect by French singer Abd al Malik.

The musician's lawyer, Isabelle Weckstein, said: "A complaint will be filed", adding that Al Maliks manager, Fabien Coste, was also suing the player.

The interview appeared in French newspaper L'Equipe. In it, Ben Arfa claims Al Malik and Coste had tried to force him into a Muslim fraternity - "like in a sect".