Red-faced English Football Association officials will spend the weekend trying to sort out Roy Keane's ban bungle.
Just 24 hours after chief executive Adam Crozier resigned amid acrimony over his autocratic role within the game's governing body, the FA confirmed on their official website that the deadline for the 31-year-old Manchester United skipper to appeal against his five-match ban and £150,000 fine had passed with no reply from the Corkman.
However, they were immediately informed that Keane's legal representatives were in possession of a letter - dated October 25th - from the FA confirming the player, currently recovering from hip surgery, had 14 days, from that date, to appeal, effectively November 8th.
After initially rejecting the existence of the letter, the FA have now pledged to solve the mystery, which has left them embarrassed and Keane laughing up his sleeve.
It had been thought the 14-day appeal period would run from the date of the original hearing at the Reebok Stadium, October 15th.
Alex Ferguson was the first to cast doubt on that belief, stating in Monday's press conference ahead of the Champions League clash with Maccabi Haifa that he believed the deadline had been extended to Thursday.
The following day, the FA confirmed that, in their eyes, Keane had until the end of office hours last night to contact them, thinking, incorrectly, that the the letter confirming the player's punishment had been issued on October 18th.
Consequently, just after 5.30 p.m. last night the following statement appeared on the official FA website, www.thefa.com.
"At 5.30pm, the Football Association had not received an appeal from Roy Keane regarding the five-match suspension and £150,000 fine brought against the Manchester United player at a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday, October 15th.
"Roy Keane had 14 days in which to respond from Friday, October 18th, the date on which he was sent official notification of the hearing's findings. Keane's ban is due to start on November 4th."
The irony of the situation is that privately, United officials want their captain to accept his punishment and let the controversies raised by his book to die down.
It is still not known whether Keane will heed their advice, but even if he now accepts the ban - which is due to start on Monday - he will enjoy a private chuckle at the FA's expense this evening.
Meanwhile, Claudio Reyna has been ruled out for six months - effectively the remainder of the season - with a cruciate ligament injury.
Scans confirmed the extent of the injury, which the American international midfielder sustained during Monday's 1-1 draw with Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.
Stilian Petrov is set to sign a new, improved contract with Celtic. Manager Martin O'Neill plans to meet Petrov's agent this weekend to thrash out a new extension to his current deal.
