MIDDLESBROUGH face the prospect of having league points deducted after controversially calling off today's Premiership meeting with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

Without consulting either the Premier League or officials of Blackburn, the struggling Teesside club announced it would not be fulfilling the fixture because 23 of their players were unavailable because of either injury or illness.

It is the first time since the formation of the Premier League five years ago that a game has been postponed on the grounds that a club is unable to field a team on medical grounds.

As Middlesbrough brace themselves for disciplinary action which could ultimately undermine an increasingly grim fight against relegation, and the management and supporters of Blackburn openly seethed, the Premier League said the matter would be set before a disciplinary panel early in the New Year.

"The decision by Middlesbrough to postpone tomorrow's fixture with Blackburn Rovers has not been approved by the FA Premier League," said Premier League spokesman, Mike Lee.

"The Premier League has no discretion to approve such postponements and our rules clearly state that a club is obliged to fulfil fixtures.

If Middlesbrough's argument was to be dismissed they face the distinct possibility of being docked points for an act which many influential figures within English football's hierarchy seem certain to construe as an act of open rebellion.

But, an unrepentant Keith lamb, Middlesbrough's chief executive, confirmed that his club had arrived at its decision without any form of negotiation or permission.

"We have an absolutely clear conscience over this," he said. "We felt the players we have available could not properly represent this club. We are confident that we have reacted in a right and proper manner throughout.

"We have postponed the game, not the Premier League. There is no provision within the Premier League rules to postpone games. We have taken the onus totally on ourselves because of injury and illness."

Middlesbrough claim that a combination of injures and a real complaint has left them with just 17 professionals. Twenty three players, including manager Bryan Robson and his assistant Viv Anderson, were deemed unfit to make the journey down to Lancashire for the highly significant meeting of two of the Premiership's struggling clubs. "We have 17 fit contracted professionals," said Lamb.

"Three of them are goalkeepers and five have never been in the first team squad, never mind the first team.

"Of the remaining nine, two have made the briefest of first team appearances so we have seven first team squad players fit."

However, Rob son admitted he feared the Premier League may well decide to bring down its disciplinary might upon his club. "The league have told us there maybe, it'll be serious consequences he said. "We are ready to face an inquiry. We asked the league if they wanted to send an independent medical team to the club this afternoon to check but they said no.

"We have sent them all the information we have including medical evidence, and we are happy with the details we have supplied. I have run out of players I just can't put a team out on Saturday," he added.

Blackburn's furious caretaker manager, Tony Parkes, called for the league to award the three points to his club.

"It is a totally unacceptable situation," he said. "We are very disappointed by this. We were all geared up for what was a big game only to find, 24 hours beforehand, it won't be going ahead.

In such circumstances it is difficult to know what the punishment should be. But, at this moment, I believe we should be awarded the points it's as simple as that."

Apparently, the first the Lancashire club knew of the postponement was early yesterday afternoon when a confused supporter rang the ground to say he had read of Middlesbrough's decision on BBC's Ceefax service.