EFL League Two side Grimsby Town have been fined 20,000 pounds for fielding an ineligible player in the team’s famous win over Manchester United.
Grimsby Town beat Man United 12-11 on penalties after the game ended 2-2 in the second round of the Carabao Cup. However, the club breached the rules of the game after fielding an ineligible player.
In the lead up to the game, Grimsby Town registered Clarke Oduor’s name as a team member just a minute after the deadline for submitting the names of players deeming Oduor ineligible to participate in the game.
Kenya international Oduor started the game off the bench but got involved in the on-field action in the 79th minute and went on to miss his penalty kick attempt in the win over Man United.
Grimsby Town isn’t the first club to be fined instead of facing an outright ban for similar breaches in the Carabao Cup.
Liverpool in 2019, Accrington Stanley in 2016, Sunderland in 2013 were handed varying fines for breaking the law under similar circumstances.
In a release by the English Football League-organizers of the Carabao Cup-stated that Grimsby Town will be fined and not expelled.
“The EFL board, acting as the management committee of the Carabao Cup, has today fined Grimsby Town Football Club £20,000 – of which £10,000 will be suspended until the end of season 2025-26 – for having breached the rules of the competition.
“The club self-reported the breach upon discovery the day after the fixture had been completed. Following a comprehensive review of all the evidence and considering prior decisions taken in respect of offences in the League Cup, the board determined that the issuing of a fine followed precedent” the statement read.
