Grimsby fined after fielding ineligible player against Manchester United

A delay of mere seconds in registering a new signing has proved extremely expensive for Grimsby but at least the League Two club looks to have escaped a potential expulsion from the Carabao Cup.

Instead Grimsby have been fined £20,000 by the English Football League for fielding an ineligible player during their famous League Cup win against Manchester United at Blundell Park last Wednesday. The governing body opted to issue a pecuniary sanction rather than use their potential powers to either expel David Artell’s side or order the tie to be replayed.

Clarke Oduor’s registration was submitted at 12.01pm last Tuesday, one minute and 59 seconds after the 12pm deadline demanded by this season’s EFL League Cup rules.

Oduor, a Kenya defender newly acquired on loan from League One Bradford, was introduced as a 73rd-minute substitute in a tie won 12-11 on penalties by Grimsby after Manchester United recovered from falling 2-0 behind to force a shootout. Perhaps ironically Oduor, once of Leeds, was the only one of Artell’s players to miss a penalty. When he stepped off the bench for his debut, his team held a two-goal advantage.

The EFL said Grimsby had self-reported this breach of regulations once they discovered a mistake prompted by a computer malfunction the day after their triumph against Ruben Amorim’s side.

It responded by imposing a £20,000 fine on the club but left £10,000 suspended. That sum will be not need to be paid unless Grimsby field another ineligible player in any EFL competition this season.

Manchester United could, in theory, appeal the EFL’s decision and have until Monday to lodge a demand for such a review. The Old Trafford club declined to comment on Tuesday.

In a statement, accepting their punishment, Grimsby blamed that computer error on the delay in hitting the deadline and stressed it had been an honest mistake. “We accept the fine imposed and fully recognise the importance of adhering to competition rules and regulations,” read the statement. “This mistake was not deliberate, and the club acted transparently by self reporting the breach as soon as it came to light.”

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The north-east Lincolnshire club – who face Sheffield Wednesday in the third round later this month – added that they had undertaken a “full review” of their procedures and introduced “strengthened measures” to ensure there can be no repeat of the breach of regulations.

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