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Ben Arfa's move to Nice halted

Xinhua, January 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

French winger Hatem Ben Arfa's move to Ligue 1 club Nice has been scuppered Wednesday by FIFA after the soccer's world governing body deemed him ineligible for a third team in one season.

FIFA, who hold the transfer regulations that a player cannot play for more than two clubs in the same season, verified that the 27-year-old played once for Newcastle United's under-21 team prior to moving to Hull City on loan last September.

Nice coach Claude Puel is not concerned, however, saying that " for us, his eligibility is not in doubt."

"The English federation wrote to the French federation and to FIFA explaining that the match played by Hatem did not count towards and official competition," Puel said.

Nice snapped up the French playmaker on a free transfer last week, following his release by Newcastle United from a pre-ended one-year loan. Endite