Grimsby Town have released a statement after the EFL issued them with a sanction for fielding an ineligible player
Manchester United were eliminated by Grimsby Town on penalties in their Carabao Cup second-round clash
Manchester United were eliminated by Grimsby Town on penalties in their Carabao Cup second-round clash
(Image: Getty)
Grimsby Town have released a statement after they were charged by the EFL for fielding an ineligible player against Manchester United.
The Mariners knocked United out of the Carabao Cup on penalties last month, condemning Ruben Amorim to arguably his worst loss as manager thus far.
It was the first time in 30 years United had lost to a fourth-tier opposition, having been defeated on spot-kicks after a 2-2 draw.
Bryan Mbeumo missed the decisive penalty after slamming his effort against the crossbar in a game that eventually finished 12-11 on penalties.
But drama has swirled on Tuesday, with Dave Artell's side handed an EFL fine for fielding an ineligible player in the tie.
Clarke Oduor was the only Grimsby player to miss his penalty, but was not registered on time for the contest, with the Mariners then admitting the clerical error.
They must now pay £10,000, with the remaining £10,000 suspended until the end of the season, with MEN Sport under the impression that no replay or expulsion from the tournament is being considered for Town.
Grimsby have now released a new statement reacting to the charge, with some suggesting United may have been reinstated should this have happened in the FA Cup.
"Grimsby Town Football Club acknowledges today’s decision by the EFL regarding an error in the registration of Clarke Oduor ahead of our Carabao Cup Round Two fixture against Manchester United," the announcement began.
The registration of Oduor was submitted to the EFL at one minute past the deadline and the issue was not immediately identified by the Club due to a computer problem being experienced at Grimsby.
"We accept the fine imposed and fully recognise the importance of adhering to competition rules and regulations. 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.
"We thank the EFL Board for recognising our co-operation and intent, and we remain fully committed to maintaining the highest professional and regulatory standards.
"The Club won’t make any further comment on the matter and now looks forward to focusing on preparations for our upcoming fixtures."