THE Football Association yesterday distanced themselves from the Tyne-Tees derby call-off row, insisting any official complaint from Newcastle United must be dealt with by the Premier League.

United manager Sir Bobby Robson has hinted that his club will protest to the appropriate authority over the postponement of Saturday's game at Middlesbrough.

An angry Robson has accused Boro of colluding with officials in the decision to call the match off nearly 28 hours before it was due to take place.

The game, which could now be staged a week on Saturday following the elimination of both sides from the FA Cup, was postponed at 11.15 on Friday morning after heavy snow.

Robson, aware that Boro have had injury problems and were beaten 5-2 at home by Aston Villa last Tuesday, claimed there wasn't much "will'' from the Teessiders to ensure Saturday's game went ahead.

Although a thaw was forecast and the pitch was playable, Boro stressed that the game was called off for safety reasons on the advice of the police, safety officials and local referee Jeff Winter, after an inspection of the terraces and stadium approaches.

And Boro manager Steve McClaren insisted his team were desperate to play after losing their unbeaten record at the Riverside.

It was reported yesterday that the FA would probe the matter, but spokesman Adrian Bevington said: "The FA would like to clarify that they are not investigating any matters concerning the postponement of the Premier League game involving Middlesbrough and Newcastle.

''This fixture does not fall within the jurisdiction of the FA's control.''

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given admitted he was surprised by the decision to postpone the match on Friday.

Speaking on TalkSPORT's Sunday Breakfast programme, Given said: ''I don't know what the story was to be honest.

''It was called off on Friday lunchtime which was a bit strange because it's a derby and fans would only leave for the game an hour before. Surely they could have left it to Saturday.''

McClaren maintained his side were eager to "bounce back'' from their defeat and confirmed that skipper Gareth Southgate, who missed the Villa game with flu, would have been fit to face Newcastle.

The Boro boss said: "The first I knew about the decision was when a club official came across the training pitches to tell me.

"I was busy preparing my players for the big game and had no idea the match was in doubt.

"I was hugely disappointed because I believe my players were ready to bounce back from the defeat to Aston Villa. When you lose a game like that, you want to play again quickly and I thought it would be the perfect time to play Newcastle.

"Gareth Southgate was fit to return, we would have had new signings Malcolm Christie and Chris Riggott in the squad, and I had no new injury worries, so we would have been up for it.

"I can understand Bobby's disappointment because I felt it too. Naturally, the fans are disappointed as well because they were looking forward to the game, but the inspection was carried out by independent safety officials whose job it is to make sometimes unpopular decisions.

"It's only right that the safety of the supporters was put first. I understand the terraces and seating areas were covered in thick snow and there was simply no prospect of getting them cleared.

"Of course, it's ironic when the pitch was perfectly playable, thanks to our pitch cover.

"But the decision was out of our hands and we just had to abide by it."

Robson also said he was "baffled'' by Boro's refusal to rearrange the game for tomorrow night.

But Boro said that wasn't an option because the police require much more notice. Tickets for the original date will be valid for the rearranged game. Refunds can be arranged by contacting Boro's ticket office at the Riverside.