Stoke City midfielder Stephen Ireland must sit out their clash with former club Aston Villa this weekend.
Ireland signed outright for Stoke in January, but remains ineligible for selection.
The Sentinel says Villa insisted during negotiations that their former playmaker be barred from playing against them this season.
They were allowed to negotiate that clause after a recent change in Premier League rules.
Stoke, keen to get the deal done in January, agreed to their wishes.
