Wasps have escaped punishment for refusing to play their Guinness Premiership clash with Sale at Edgeley Park.

The London club refused to play the match on November 27 because of surface water down one channel of the pitch.

They were charged with a breach of regulations but a Premier Rugby disciplinary panel tonight dismissed the charges after deciding they had not been proved.

The panel will issue a written decision setting out its reasons for dismissing the charges within 48 hours.

Sale revealed they would study that judgement before deciding what action they might take.

Chief executive officer James Jennings said: "This decision is incredibly disappointing and will come as a shock to all Sale Sharks supporters who were at Edgeley Park on the night when the game was cancelled.

"We will issue a further statement immediately following the publication of the panel's reasons for its decision."

A statement from Wasps read: "Following full cooperation with the review into the game postponement at Edgeley Park, London Wasps are delighted that the members of Premier Rugby's designated disciplinary group decided that charges had not been proven and accordingly the charges have been dismissed by the panel.

"London Wasps will make no further statement until the written decision is released within 48 hours, however the club are pleased that the matter has been resolved so that our full attention can be turned to our game against Bayonne at Adams Park on Saturday.

"London Wasps continue to share in both Wasps and Sale supporters' disappointment that this game could not be played."

Wasps potentially faced a range of sanctions, including a points deduction and fine, for their refusal to play the game.

They deemed the surface to be dangerous and the match was officially postponed almost 15 minutes after the scheduled 7.45pm kick-off.

Referee David Rose was happy for the game to go ahead and spectators had taken their seats when the decision was announced, angering Sale and their fans.

It is the third season running that Wasps have been involved in an 11th-hour postponement, but the Premier Rugby panel opted against taking any action.

A statement read: "On November 30 Wasps were charged with breaches of Guinness Premiership regulations 4.4 (a), (b) and (j) by Premier Rugby.

"After a hearing today before a panel consisting of three members of Premier Rugby's designated disciplinary group, it was decided that charges had not been proven and accordingly the charges have been dismissed by the panel.

"The panel intends to issue a short written decision setting out its reasons for dismissing the charges within 48 hours.

"No further statement will be made until that time."

Sale were infuriated by the withdrawal but Wasps, confident in their grounds for refusing to play, were prepared to vigorously contest any sanctions.