FIFA has refused to allow Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez to move to Olympique Marseille on loan, a FIFA spokesman said on Thursday.

The decision by the players' committee of world soccer's ruling body was made "on the basis of the transfer regulations which say transfers can only be registered during the transfer window" which opens again in January.

"The committee looked at the case and rejected the request," the spokesman said.

Marseille had said they wanted the nine-month loan of the France keeper to be completed by October 31 and had asked for a special dispensation from FIFA.

The French club has several important league games before January and Barthez can play only league games, and not in the Champions League, because he is still registered with United for European matches.

The spokesman said the French football federation had been informed of the decision and it would be formally announced on Friday.

"I have not been informed of anything officially by FIFA," said Marseille president Christophe Bouchet. "Apparently the press have been tipped off which is a bit of a strange way to communicate.

"I shall wait for an official decision before making any comment."

Marseille had asked for permission to sign Barthez, number three at United, because their reserve goalkeeper Cedric Carasso is out for several months with a knee injury.

But from the outset FIFA officials made it clear they were unwilling to make an exception for any player as it would set a precedent. The international transfer window is in only its second year of operation.

Barthez, a World Cup winner in 1998, needs to play first team soccer to guarantee his place in Jacques Santini's French squad for Euro 2004 -- France are defending champions.

He has not played a match for United this season.

Marseille presented Barthez to the media last week and he was expected to replace Croatian Vedran Runje as number one.

He won the European Cup with Marseille in 1993 before moving to Monaco. He joined United in 2000.