Grimsby Town’s fairytale Carabao Cup triumph over Manchester United has been overshadowed by a costly administrative error that has left the League Two side facing a £20,000 (Sh3.4 million) fine.
The Mariners stunned the football world last week by knocking out Erik ten Hag’s side on penalties after a pulsating 2-2 draw at Blundell Park.
Yet, the English Football League (EFL) has since confirmed that Grimsby fielded an ineligible player during the tie, Kenyan midfielder Clarke Oduor.
Oduor, who had only just completed a loan move from Bradford City, was registered with the club one minute past the official 12:00 BST deadline on the eve of the fixture. The EFL deemed the breach a violation of competition rules, although it accepted Grimsby’s swift self-reporting and explanation that a “computer issue” had delayed the process.
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In a statement, Grimsby expressed regret while underlining that the error was not intentional:
“The registration of Oduor was submitted at 12:01 due to a computer issue, which wasn’t immediately spotted. We accept the fine and fully recognise the importance of following competition rules. We acted swiftly and transparently, and we remain committed to the highest professional standards.”
As punishment, the Mariners have been hit with a £20,000 fine, of which £10,000 is payable immediately and the other half suspended until the end of the season, conditional on avoiding any further breaches.
The EFL stressed that while rules must be enforced, the club’s honesty in declaring the mistake was taken into consideration when determining sanctions.
Despite the setback, the result of the tie stands, meaning Grimsby’s place in the third round against Championship side Sheffield Wednesday is secure.