The London club had angered Sale and a near 8,000- strong crowd by claiming shortly before kick-off that a section of the Sharks' playing surface represented a danger to their players - even though both Sale and match referee David Rose had deemed the pitch fit for purpose - and as a result Wasps were called to face a PRL disciplinary panel.
In the run-up to the hearing there had been widespread calls for Wasps - who had been at the centre of two previous controversial late call-offs in the last two seasons - to be docked points, heavily fined as well as for Sale to be awarded a victory.
Even Francis Baron, the normally diplomatic chief executive of the Rugby Football Union, admitted: "What happened at Sale cast the game in bad light. To call the match off 15 minutes before kick-off with a ground pretty full is not the sort of thing you want."
However, following a four- hour hearing in London yesterday, a three-man panel comprising of Leicester chief executive Peter Wheeler, Gloucester managing director Ken Nottage and Harlequins CEO Mark Evans ruled that the central charge leveled at Wasps, that of breaching Guinness Premiership and Premier Rugby regulations, had "not been proved".
Though the panel were not due to release any written statement regarding their decision until today at the earliest, it is understood the central plank of Wasps' defence was International Rugby Board law 1.6 which states:
Precedence
(a) If either team has objections about the ground or the way it is marked out they must tell the referee before the match starts.
(b) The referee will attempt to resolve the issues but must not start a match if any part of the ground is considered to be dangerous.
And with the IRB being the ultimate decision makers of the sport, any ruling they issue takes precedence.
Though careful to temper their language last night, there was no disguising the fury with which the Sharks greeted the decision.
Instead, the club issued a carefully worded statement which read: "Sale are disappointed to learn about the decision of the PRL panel in relation to the cancellation of the Sharks v Wasps game on November 27. We understand the panel decided to dismiss the case and will issue a written judgment within 48 hours. The club will study the written judgment and decide what action it can take."
For his part, the Sharks' chief executive James Jennings, who attended the hearing along with director of rugby Kingsley Jones, hinted that from a Sale perspective the matter could yet be far from finished.
Though Sale cannot take the matter further with Premier Rugby, they could appeal directly to the RFU.
"This decision is incredibly disappointing and will come as a shock to all Sale supporters who were at Edgeley Park," said Jennings.
"We will issue a further statement immediately following the publication of the panel's reasons for its decision."
There had been concern beforehand amongst the Sharks support that Wasps would escape any punishment and having had their own fears realised, those same disgruntled fans - not to mention Sale's incredulous management - will be left feeling that never mind a coach and horses, the decision has driven an articulated lorry through the spirit of the game.
Crowded
For his part, owner Brian Kennedy will be seething at last night's news. On the night of the call-off he had pledged: "We need to look at the legal and financial position. We're not going to lie down on this one."
With a crowded fixture list, the next headache for Sale officials - should they opt not to appeal - will be finding a gap to slot in the re-arranged game.
The earliest possible window is in March should both clubs not be involved in the LV= Cup semi-finals. That would also be slap-bang in the middle of the Six Nations which, ironically, could affect Wasps far more than Sale in terms of international call-ups.
Whenever it takes place, what isn't in doubt is that the needle and bad feeling generated by the affair will be palpable.
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Namby pamby Wasps rugby players, how *** is that...
"can't play on this the pitch is full of water..."
What a surprise, Wasps are let off by a panel of representation from Leicester, Gloucester and ‘Quins. The Northerners are screwed over again. An example needed to be made of this case as a deterrent for other clubs doing the same thing. Wasps fans are now calling for an investigation into the pitch conditions at Edgeley Park – It’s the North, it rain’s more than London, get over it! This is such a surreal situation, it honestly wasn’t that bad and its rugby for heaven’s sake! All Sale fans (especially those who had travelled there on the night in question) will feel very let down by this decision.
Gutless decision by the authorities. It makes me wonder if Sale had been the guilty party if the same decision would have been taken. I fear not.
its not what you know - but i do know they're southern wimps.
I can't believe this is being turned around, the pitch from an observer, admittedly 10 yards away, looked definately playable for Rugby. Wasps did not want to play, the referee was happy to play and Sale were happy. They should have at least started but no they got back on the bus and ordered pizza while those in the ground waited.
What Wasps have done is manipulate a tricky situation into a probably more favourable one.
What is to stop anyone turning up and saying we don't want to play or vica versa, Sale go to Wasps and do it, Rugby could be in chaos.
I will not applaud Wasps when they eventually take to the field for the rematch, they have not acted in the spirit of the game.