The English Football League (EFL) has released a statement after it was revealed that Grimsby Town fielded an ineligible player against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup Second Round. Last week, the Mariners made history by becoming the first fourth-tier side to defeat the English giants in a competitive fixture.
But it has since emerged that loanee Clarke Oduor was not registered in time to play the second-round clash. Oduor’s registration came one minute after the 12pm deadline set the day before the game. The club self-reported the breach after their giant-killing victory, having discovered the mistake themselves.
The 26-year-old came on in the 76th minute, with Grimsby 2-0 up, and was unable to prevent United from equalising in injury time. The match went to a penalty shootout, where Oduor was the only Grimsby player to miss his spot-kick. The League Two side have been fined £20,000 - half of which will be payable at the end of the 2025/26 season - after they progressed courtesy of a 12-11 penalty shootout win.
EFL Release Statement After Grimsby Town Fielded Ineligible Player
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"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 statement, as posted on the EFL's official website, read.
"The breach relates to the Club fielding an ineligible player against Manchester United in a Round Two tie on 27 August 2025. Grimsby Town progressed to Round Three following a 12-11 penalty shoot-out win at Blundell Park."
"The circumstances leading to this transgression are that Grimsby Town submitted the registration of Clarke Oduor at 12:01 pm on the day before the fixture i.e. shortly after the 12:00 pm deadline required in accordance with the 2025/26 competition rules. 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."
It continued: "The Board further noted the club’s non-compliance was not deliberate with no intention to deceive or mislead. The Club has since implemented several actions to prevent a similar occurrence in the future. The club will be liable for the suspended sum of £10,000, if they were to again field an ineligible player in any League Competition between now and the end of Season 2025/26."
The precedent shows that Barnsley were kicked out of the FA Cup back in 2023 after using an ineligible player in their first round replay win against Horsham, as highlighted by the Daily Mail's Nathan Salt. It will be interesting to see what, if any, steps the United hierarchy take to pursue a similar outcome.