Charlton have asked English Premier League bosses to order a replay of their weekend defeat by Chelsea on the grounds that they were not given advance warning it would be played on a sand-covered Stamford Bridge pitch.
Wet weather has reduced Chelsea's pitch to a quagmire this season and Saturday's game, which Chelsea won 4-1, was only able to go ahead after the surface, which was due to be re-turfed, was heavily sanded.
Charlton are claiming that league rules were breached because they were not warned the match would be taking place on sand, rather than grass, and that their players did not have the opportunity to practice or even to ensure they were wearing the right boots.
"At no time prior to our away fixture at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, January 11th, were we informed by Chelsea FC that we would be playing on an artificial sand surface and not grass, contrary to the rules of the FA Premier League (Rule 17, Section I)," Charlton chief executive Peter Varney said in a statement.
"On arrival at Stamford Bridge at 1.30 p.m., we were immediately advised by Chelsea officials that the game was in doubt and the pitch was being inspected by the match referee, Mike Dean.
"Our team manager Alan Curbishley immediately raised the matter with the referee and was advised the pitch met the league criteria of 'being flat' and on this basis the match would go ahead.
"Neither the referee, the FA Premier League or ourselves had been pre-notified of the change in pitch surface.
In their claim to the Premier League, Charlton point out that Chelsea's players were able to train on the surface and had the advantage of wearing the right kind of footwear.
"In the light of the evidence available, we are requesting that the match be replayed on a grass surface. PA