Rule book stops Defoe from facing Spurs

LONDON (Reuters) - Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe will miss the trip to his old club Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday because of confusion over the Premier League's rules on loan signings.

England international Defoe, who has scored six goals for his new club since joining on the last day of the January transfer window, is ineligible because the initial deal taking him to Portsmouth was on a loan basis.

Although the deal was later made permanent a Premier League rule voted for by the clubs states that a player who originally signed on loan is not allowed to play against his former club in the same season.

"Clearly we are not happy about the situation and were under the impression it only applied to goalkeepers," a statement on Portsmouth's Web site (www.portsmouthfc.co.uk) said on Thursday.

"Spurs were under the impression he was playing and clearly the rule needs to be looked at again."

The ruling was agreed after Manchester United refused permission for former goalkeeper Tim Howard to play for Everton against them last season, citing a gentleman's agreement between the clubs.

United beat Everton 4-2, sparking a flurry of press speculation that they had gained an unfair advantage at a crucial stage of the title race.

(Writing by Martyn Herman, editing by Justin Palmer)