could be reported to the football board for a breach of its Under-21s competition rules, it has been claimed. Rivals Southampton are reportedly unhappy that tonight's Premier League 2 play-off final will not be played at the Etihad Stadium.

City face the Saints in the showdown tonight to decide the country's best U21 side. Premier League 2 is a youth competition between the best teams in the country in that age category. Its aim is to smooth the transition between academy and first-team football and it was expanded this year to a single-division, 26-team format. Previously, teams were split into north and south categories.

Despite the competition rules stating that the play-off matches must be played at the hosting team's main stadium, tonight's match will be played at City's women's and academy venue, the Joie Stadium. That is because the Premier League side are completing major redevelopment works on the Etihad Stadium this summer.

According to , Southampton are 'unhappy' that the match will take place at the 7,000-seater arena instead of the 53,600-capacity Etihad Stadium. The Saints played their last-16 and quarter-final ties at St Mary's, before beating Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

City played Manchester United at the Joie Stadium in the semi-finals. Southampton are said to have offered to host the final at St. Mary's, but that would have meant changing the home advantage, which City earned by finishing higher in the league.

The report adds that City feel Southampton have been 'opportunistic' in delaying accepting the Joie Stadium as the venue. The impasse is even claimed to have prevented Sky Sports from showing a Premier League 2 match for the very first time.

City are also said to have informed the Premier League in March and April that the work being completed on the Etihad Stadium may lead to a potential rule breach. The Premier League worked with City and United to have the semi-final staged at the Joie Stadium. Beating Southampton would make Ben Wilkinson's side four-time Premier League 2 champions.

Meanwhile, a verdict on the 130 charges made against City by the Premier League is not expected to be heard before the summer. City are accused of breaching the league's financial rules between 2009 and 2018 in a series of serious accusations.

A verdict had initially been due in March, with Pep Guardiola saying in February: "In one month, I think there will be a verdict and a sentence. After that, we will see my opinion of what happened so far."