Dundalk cannot postpone next week’s clash with Finn Harps despite two players being called up for international duty.
Sonni Nattestad will be on Faroe Islands duty in their World Cup qualifier against Moldova on Thursday week, the day before Dundalk face Harps at Oriel Park.
The Faroes are then away to Austria on March 28 and in Scotland on March 31, which is two days before Dundalk face Shamrock Rovers.
And Nattestad’s Lilywhites team-mate Raivis Jurkovskis is in the Latvia squad for their qualifiers against Montenegro, Holland and Turkey.
But while clubs can seek postponements if two or more Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland players are called up, the rule does not apply to foreign signings.
“The game is going ahead due to one of the strangest rules I've seen,” said the club’s team manager Shane Keegan.
“Sonni and Raivis are both called up, but it doesn't count apparently because it's not for Ireland or Northern Ireland.
“The explanation I got was that this rule is set out in the participation agreement which is something agreed by the clubs. So it's very black and white.”
Dundalk are also waiting to see if Alessio Abibi is called up by Albania as they have been told he is in the mix.
Capped for Albania at Under-19 level, the Italian-born goalkeeper, 24, is in contention for upcoming games against Andorra, England and San Marino.
Dundalk also signed players from Norway, America and Scotland over the winter and Keegan feels the rule will deter clubs from looking abroad.
“I suppose it was something agreed without much thought because we didn't really have mass volumes of internationals from outside of the Republic,” he said.
“I don't really understand what the thinking was behind it but the FAI's argument is that it's not our rule.
“It's also the participation agreement that lays out the rules around work permits and who is entitled to it and who is not.
“It’s going to make life a little bit more difficult but we’ve good strength in depth so we just have to cope with it.
“But it's something the clubs will need to look at before the start of next year.”
Meanwhile, Dundalk are trying to overturn a suspension for giant defender Nattestad ahead of Saturday’s league opener in Sligo.
He was shown a straight red in the President’s Cup win over Shamrock Rovers on Friday and will miss the Showgrounds clash as it stands.
Keegan added: “We had to see whether the referee's report was going to be for the tackle or the flare up after the tackle, but it was for the tackle.
“He felt that two feet leaving the ground were enough to justify the red. We'll make a bit of a play, but we probably won’t know until Thursday.”
Dundalk also want to sign additional midfield cover going into the new season.
And Keegan - who refused to comment on Liam Buckley’s pointed comments on Dundalk’s managerial reshuffle - said: “We're still one or two bodies light.
“The club has made us aware that if the right player is out there, they’re willing to back it.”
