The Ligue de Football Professionnel's judicial committee have not given their approval to Fabien Barthez signing for Marseille and have ruled that the final decision belongs to FIFA. The LFP committee met last night to study Barthez's proposed move - a proposed move outside the transfer window.
Barthez's return to France after months on the sidelines at Manchester United is complicated as FIFA rules do not allow a move outside the transfer window. The Ligue confirmed they had no power to rule on such a case and that FIFA, to whom the dispensation request will next be sent, will make the final decision.
Barthez agreed in principle at the weekend to re-sign for his former team Marseille, where he was part of the club's glory days in the early 1990s.
Ireland drop one place
The Republic of Ireland dropped one place to 15th in the latest FIFA world ranking list following the team's failure to qualify for the European Championship finals in Portugal next summer. Brazil still top the list with France and Spain second and third respectively. England remain sixth while the Netherlands have risen two places to fifth and the Italians four to eighth. Ireland's European qualification rivals, Switzerland and Russia, are 43rd and 28th in the list respectively.
Kilkenny City, meanwhile, have parted company with former Waterford United and Limerick manager Tommy Lynch. The team has been struggling near the foot of the First Division for most of this season and former Cobh Ramblers midfielder Ger Bickerstaff has been asked to take over for the remainder of the campaign.
