Hatem Ben Arfa has been left in limbo after Nice were prevented by Fifa from registering him. The playmaker, a free agent after his release from Newcastle, joined the French club last Monday but had been awaiting international clearance.
The problem was due to a clause in Fifa’s transfer regulations which states a player cannot play for more than two clubs in the same season. Ben Arfa made eight appearances on loan at Hull – and an appearance for Newcastle’s under-21 side against Reading on 25 August has been ruled by Fifa to be an official match. Ben Arfa scored his side’s fourth goal in a 5-2 win.
Article 5.3 of Fifa’s regulations on the status and transfer of players states: “Players may be registered with a maximum of three clubs during one season. During this period, the player is only eligible to play official matches for two clubs.”
A statement on Nice’s official website read: “OGC Nice have received a copy of a correspondence sent by Fifa to the FFF [French Football Federation]. The international federation responded to the question posed by the French federation regarding a match played by Hatem Ben Arfa with Newcastle under-21s.
“Contrary to the position of the English [Football Association], it appears that for Fifa the match in the U21 Professional Development League ‘must be considered as official in the sense of the regulation’ and ‘must therefore be taken into consideration in determining the application of article 5.3 of the regulation’ on the status and transfer of players.”
Nice’s statement came after a Fifa spokesperson told Press Association Sport: “Our services received an information request from the French Football Federation concerning the player Ben Arfa relating to art. 5 par. 3 of the regulations on the status and transfer of players.
“We can confirm that today we have responded to the FFF regarding their information request.”
The development leaves Ben Arfa, who has 13 France caps to his name, in limbo.
Hull pulled the plug on his loan deal after he fell out of favour with the manager, Steve Bruce, and a Newcastle statement on 4 January read: “Hatem Ben Arfa and the club have reached an agreement to terminate the contract between both parties with immediate effect by mutual consent.”