Ben Arfa’s Nice move ‘finished’

NICE, France: French international Hatem Ben Arfa’s move to Nice is “finished” after FIFA refused to validate his transfer from Newcastle because he had already played for two clubs this season, he said on Tuesday.
“It’s finished with Nice,” said the 27-year-old midfielder, adding he could “possibly” find a solution “abroad”.
“I’m depressed, very sad, but I will not stop my career like that, I’m ready to go to the North Pole to play,” he told a press conference.
“There are so many possibilities that I cannot say more about my future,” added the former Lyon and Marseille player.
Ben Arfa had turned out for Newcastle’s under-21 team at the beginning of the season and also played for Premier League side Hull on loan.
Under world football’s governing body rules, he cannot join a third team during the same season.
The French Football League immediately slapped a ban on Ben Arfa from playing for Nice this season.
However, the league’s judicial commission said they would allow the player to train with the Ligue 1 club.
The English Football Association (FA) had contacted FIFA on January 23 in a bid to clear up confusion concerning the transfer of the French midfielder.
“We don’t consider U21 games as official matches,” the FA said in letter to FIFA, in a bid to “clear all ambiguity” concerning Ben Arfa’s case.