Man Utd were dumped out of the Carabao Cup at the second round stage by Grimsby Town on penalties last week.
Players of Grimsby Town celebrate after beating United.(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Grimsby Town have been fined for fielding an ineligible player against Manchester United.
United dramatically crashed out of the Carabao Cup on penalties at Blundell Park last week. Grimsby progressed to the next round after prevailing in the penalty shootout, following a 2-2 draw.
However, it has transpired that a Grimsby player, Clarke Oduor, was ineligible to play in the game.
Oduor was introduced to the contest to replace George McEachran in the 73rd minute. Oduor signed for Grimsby from Bradford City on a season-long deal a day before the game and the League Two club submitted his registration a minute late, which meant he was ineligible to feature against United.
Grimsby reported themselves for the late registration and the EFL board launched an investigation.
The EFL have fined Grimsby and released a statement to confirm their breach of the rules.
The statement said: "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 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 12:01pm on the day before the fixture i.e. shortly after the 12:00pm 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.
"The board further noted the club's non-compliance was not deliberate with no intention to deceive or mislead. The club has sinceimplemented 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."
United trailed Grimsby 2-0 at half-time at Blundell Park but forced a penalty shootout after goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire.
When asked what went wrong, Amorim said: "Everything. The way we started the game, we were not even here. When everything is so important in our club, everything that happened, it's a problem in our club, we should do so much better. I just have to say sorry to our fans.
"I felt my players spoke really loud today what they want. I think it's easy for you [how to interpret it]. Let's focus on the next game and then we have the stop for the international games. We will think things through.
"Doesn't matter [that we lost on penalties]. In the penalties, the feeling is the same. I think football was really fair today. The best team won.
"I'm the manager. It should be my job to understand what happened. Again, I'm really sorry for our fans. Let's focus on the next game. That is more than a result. That is the biggest problem in the team. I think it was really clear today.
"I would like to say very smart things and very important things. I have nothing to say. Nothing to say. That is the biggest problem also. To see the same mistakes and nothing to say in this moment. I'm really sorry for our fans. It's too much sometimes.
"You cannot change so much. You cannot change everything in one summer. You need to win games. You need to not show this kind of performance. I think this is a little bit the limit.
"I think something has to change. In this moment, we need to focus on the weekend and then we have time to think."
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