Hatem Ben Arfa has insisted he will continue his playing career despite being forced to quit Nice.
Ben Arfa, 27, signed for the Ligue 1 club last month after his contract with Newcastle United was ended by mutual consent.
However, having played for the Magpies' under-21 side in August and for Hull City while on loan there before Christmas, the midfielder fell foul of FIFA regulations that prevent a player featuring for three clubs in the same season.
The former Lyon and Marseille man told a news conference on Tuesday that he and Nice would part ways, but that speculation he would hang up his boots was wide of the mark.
"Of course I'm thinking about continuing. I am not going to stop at this, that's not possible," Ben Arfa, who had been training with Nice's first-team squad after falling out of favour at St James's Park, said. "I'm devastated, very sad, it really hurts -- but I'm not going to quit. I'd be ready to go to the North Pole to play football.
"It's finished with Nice. I would like to thank everyone -- the fans, the coach. They gave me a really warm welcome. It's a regret that I can't continue here, but sometimes life is like that and you have to accept decisions."
FIFA had warned that Ben Arfa would technically be in breach of its regulations but had not given a definitive ruling on the issue, which was left to the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP).
Despite the Football Association having written to the French Football Federation to explain it did not consider Ben Arfa's appearance for Newcastle in the Professional Development League to be in official competition -- therefore meaning he had only officially represented Hull this season -- the LFP decided not to ratify his contract with Nice.
According to French Football Weekly, Ben Arfa would only be able to play again this season in an association that has a different calendar to UEFA's, meaning joining an MLS club could potentially be an option.