Grimsby Town Fined £20,000 for Fielding Ineligible Player
Written by Alonge Akinlolu on 2 — 09
The English Football League (EFL) has fined Grimsby Town £20,000 after the club fielded an ineligible player in their Carabao Cup second-round clash against Manchester United.
Midfielder Clarke Oduor’s registration was submitted one minute after the 12:00 pm deadline, breaching competition rules. Despite the error, Grimsby’s famous victory over United on penalties will stand, with the EFL opting against disqualification.
Out of the £20,000 penalty, £10,000 has been suspended and will only be enforced if the club commits a similar offence during the 2025/26 season.
Grimsby explained that the delay was caused by a computer problem and confirmed they reported the issue themselves after the match.
The incident adds an administrative twist to what was one of the shock results of the competition, as the League Two side stunned Manchester United in a dramatic 12-11 penalty shootout win.
