Barthez to stay at Marseille as club appeal to FIFA over transfer

Marseille have decided to appeal to world football's ruling body FIFA in their bid to seal the loan transfer of France and Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, the club said.

On Thursday FIFA turned down the French club's loan request on the grounds that the transfer window had now closed.

A Marseille statement Friday said the club would "resort to appealing to FIFA's executive committee" in their bid to seal Barthez' move to the club.

"According to article 34 (of FIFA's regulations) Marseille have sent their intention to appeal to the French Football Federation."

The decision means that Barthez, a former Marseille player, will stay with the club for the meantime.

The club statement added: "After having initially thought about going back to England, Fabien Barthez, after agreement between Manchester United and Marseille, will continue to train with the (Marseille) team until an answer to the appeal is given."

Barthez has fallen out of favour at the English champions and is now third in the pecking order behind American Tim Howard and Northern Ireland's Roy Carroll.

However the France keeper has been told by national team manager Jacques Santini that he needs to get back into the swing of regular top flight football if he is to keep his place ahead of the 2004 European Championships in Portugal.

Marseille are also desperate to recruit the flamboyant World Cup winner because their current second-choice keeper Cedric Carasso is out injured.

Club president Christophe Bouchet told local radio he was hoping for a winning result from the appeal.

"We are convinced that there is a specific rule regarding goalkeepers, and that sooner or later we'll be in the right."