French club Nice have not given up hope of coaxing FIFA into a U-turn over Hatem Ben Arfa after the world governing body put a block on him playing again this season.
The 27-year-old playmaker, a free agent after his release from Newcastle, joined the Cote d'Azur side last Monday but was not available for Saturday's win over Lorient as he awaited international clearance.
FIFA's transfer regulations state a player cannot play for more than two clubs in the same season.
Ben Arfa's appearance for Newcastle's under-21 team on August 25, before moving on loan to Hull, was considered an official match by FIFA, which barring a challenge to the decision will count him out of Nice duty this season.
That could come next week. Legal experts with the French league will analyse the case on Tuesday, Nice anticipate.
Ben Arfa, who has 13 France caps to his name, finds himself in limbo. He and Newcastle terminated his contract at the start of January, leaving the former Marseille player a free agent.
Nice, from Ligue 1, had said on Monday they hoped "sporting logic" would prevail, and the case could have a twist to come.
The club said in a new statement on their website on Thursday: "The French Football Federation has received the international transfer certificate delivered by the English Football Association and has sent it this morning to the Ligue de Football Professionnel.
"The approval of contracts falls under the jurisdiction of the legal commission of the LFP. The commission should have met this afternoon. As far as the club has heard, it will meet finally on Tuesday to rule on the Hatem Ben Arfa dossier."
Source: PA
