Grimsby Town Faces Penalty for Fielding Ineligible Player
Grimsby Town has incurred a £20,000 penalty from the English Football League (EFL) after it was revealed that the club fielded an ineligible player during their surprising Carabao Cup triumph against Manchester United last week. The Mariners overcame the Premier League giants in a dramatic shootout, winning 12-11 following a 2-0 lead that was eventually equalized by United.
Details of the Incident
The controversy centers around Clarke Oduor, who entered the match as a substitute in the 73rd minute. His registration was submitted just after 12:01 PM on the day prior to the match, which breached the competition’s 12 PM deadline for player eligibility. The EFL’s ruling results in Grimsby receiving a fine of £20,000, with £10,000 of that being suspended until the end of the current season; this suspended fine will activate should the club commit a similar infraction in any EFL event.
Club’s Response and EFL Ruling
After identifying the mistake, Grimsby promptly reported the error to the EFL the day following their match against United. The EFL stated that the organization’s decision to impose a fine was based on a thorough review of the circumstances, as well as historical precedents relating to similar offenses in the League Cup.
Importantly, the EFL’s board concluded that Grimsby’s oversight was unintentional, lacking the intent to mislead.
This ruling comes in the wake of previous incidents in the league, emphasizing the importance of adherence to eligibility regulations. Notably, Barnsley faced expulsion from the FA Cup earlier in 2023 for a similar incident involving an ineligible player during a match against Horsham.
