A crunch round-robin game between Green Island and the Dunedin City Royals that could have decided a thrilling title chase was never played.
The Royals, bunched at the top of the league at that point alongside Green Island and University, asked for the original game to be deferred, citing player welfare.
Southern Football chief executive Dougal McGowan said that was approved before Green Island appealed.
Southern Football began discussions surrounding a new date for the game, including the possibility of playing last weekend, but before a plan was finalised, the clubs came together and agreed to play on August 31.
That was then rescinded when the Royals confirmed they would not be able to field a team, resulting in Green Island getting three points due to a default.
The Royals also received a "significant fine" for refusing to play.
"When there are situations like this, the regulations are quite clear about what the effects of those are," McGowan said.
"It’s just really unfortunate. It’s a pity it couldn’t have been resolved so that the game could have been played."
Green Island sealed back-to-back titles after a strong season when they finished top of the table with 13 wins, three draws and four losses.
Royals president Matthew Bray said the club cited player welfare and overloading, several players having been involved with secondary school sport as well, in wanting to defer the game.
He declined to comment on the fine, but said the club opted not to appeal.
"We did what was asked by our parents, and by our players in the team, that they were physically incapable of playing on that day and we backed them," Bray said.
"We knew going into that there was a potential we would be told we would lose that game so we went into it with our eyes open.
"We hoped that wouldn’t be the case ... but unfortunately no, it didn’t go down, so we didn’t appeal it.
"We just hope that moving forward we can prevent this from happening again next year."
The Royals play a final game against Northern tonight.
