Redknapp: League ruling silly March 22 2008
Portsmouth have pledged to try to do something about the Premier League rule which deprives them of striker Jermain Defoe against his former club Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday.
However, any action will come too late to reprieve the England international as the league's next board meeting is in April.
Therefore Pompey - who claim they will have the support of many other clubs - can do nothing about the rule at the moment but a spokesman said: "Clearly we are not happy about it and think it needs looking at again because it will affect more clubs than us in future."
The south coast outfit were under the impression that because they converted Defoe's initial loan move from Spurs into a permanent one soon after the January transfer deadline he was clear to face his former employers.
But the league dropped a bombshell at Fratton Park on Thursday by "reminding" Pompey that Defoe, who cost them around £7million, was not allowed to play against the north Londoners until next season.
By then, of course, manager Harry Redknapp had already drawn up his squad for the match with Defoe, after six goals in his first six matches, the first name on the list.
"It is load of nonsense really, some silly rule but there is nothing we can do about it," Redknapp told Sky Sports.
"We took Jermain from Spurs at the last minute and to get it through in time we did it as a loan and made it permanent soon afterwards."
Defoe was understandably disappointed by the news: "I'm gutted but you look at the situation and you say 'I definitely made the right move'.
"It's important to play football and more importantly to play with good players. I'm doing that with Portsmouth and this club is going in the right direction. The crowd are great and I'm getting the chances to score goals."
Pompey admit they were caught unawares over the rule as it stands, believing it only applied to goalkeepers as in the case of Tim Howard moving from Manchester United, first on loan and then permanently, to Everton last term.
But Redknapp has to redraw his plans for the trip to the capital with £7million Nigerian John Utaka now looking likely to partner on-loan Milan Baros up front.