Southampton have launched an official complaint to the Premier League after Newcastle's trip to St. Mary's was postponed, according to the latest reports.
The Daily Mail claims Saints boss Ralph Hassenhuttl has been left furious by the decision to rearrange the fixture at such short notice given a Covid-19 outbreak in the Magpies camp.
The Magpies game against Everton was called off earlier this week after an increase in positive coronavirus tests, and injuries, meant they would be unable to field a side.
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The recent Premier League regulations have attempted to clarify how many available players clubs need on a matchday for the game to go ahead - currently 14 first team players - but football's governing body has also said it will assess things based on a case by case scenario.
Eddie Howe's side were pencilled in to face fellow relegation strugglers Southampton on the south coast tomorrow, but the postponement means it's now the 18th game in just three weeks to have succumb to Covid-19.
The Premier League's decision to take injuries into account when making a postponement decision is reportedly the main reason behind Hassenhuttl's anger.
Southampton were forced to turn to a number of youth players throughout the course of the pandemic to ensure games would go ahead, and have now lodged a formal complaint to the Premier League, feeling the decision to postpone the game was unfair.
The Saints were forced to hand a number of youth players their debut in the 9-0 thrashing against Manchester United last season and there's a growing 'concern that clubs are exploiting the rules.'
Speaking prior to the postponement, Hassenhuttl told Hampshire Live : “There’s talk about cancelling games because teams have a lot of injuries but there were times last season where we had nine out injured and we played academy players.
“That was maybe the toughest half of a season here. Injuries are not Covid cases; Injuries are also here for us.
"They had seven or eight players on the bench during their last game and now they have two more injuries.
"They should still have thirteen players plus one (goalkeeper), this is the message from the Premier League.”
