Grimsby Town has been fined £20,000 by the English Football League (EFL) after it was discovered they fielded an ineligible player during their Carabao Cup victory over Manchester United. The fine comes after the League Two side's stunning win, which saw them knock out United on penalties following a 2-2 draw. The club's success, however, was immediately overshadowed by the discovery that midfielder Clarke Oduor had been registered just under two minutes past the competition's noon deadline.
Grimsby Town acted with transparency, admitting their mistake and self-reporting the breach to the EFL. The EFL confirmed in a statement that "the club’s non-compliance was not deliberate with no intention to deceive or mislead." As a result, the Mariners have been ordered to pay an immediate fine of £10,000, with an additional £10,000 suspended until the end of the season. In a statement, the club explained that a "computer problem" led to the late registration, and they "accept the fine imposed and fully recognise the importance of adhering to competition rules."
The club also added that they have since reviewed their internal processes to prevent a similar mistake from happening again. They stated, "This mistake was not deliberate, and the club acted transparently by self-reporting the breach as soon as it came to light. Since this incident, we have undertaken a thorough review of our processes and implemented strengthened measures to ensure it cannot happen again." Grimsby expressed gratitude to the EFL board for acknowledging their cooperation.
While Manchester United declined to comment on the situation, they have until next Monday to appeal the decision under EFL rules. However, it is understood that the club has no intention of pursuing further punishment against Grimsby, and the result of the match will stand. This decision from the EFL "followed precedent," as three other clubs, Liverpool, Accrington Stanley, and Sunderland, have previously been fined but not expelled for similar offenses in the League Cup.
As a result, Grimsby Town will now proceed to the third round of the Carabao Cup to face Sheffield Wednesday. While the rules for ineligible players differ between the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, Grimsby's path forward in the competition remains clear. Meanwhile, Manchester United will now shift their focus to the Premier League until the FA Cup begins for them in January.
