FIFA have ruled that free agent midfielder Lassana Diarra is unable to join another club until the end of the 2014/15 season, contrary to reports from earlier this week.
The former Real Madrid, Chelsea and Arsenal man had agreed a deal to join West Ham until the end of the season, but FIFA have blocked the proposed move.
Diarra is a free agent having had his contract at Lokomotiv Moscow terminated last August following a reported disagreement over missing wages with coach Leonid Kuchuk.
“We had agreed a deal and unfortunately the FIFA regulation – that hasn’t been explained to me yet – there is a FIFA regulation at the moment that cannot be overcome so he will not be joining us until the end of the season,” Allardyce told Sky Sports News.
