Manchester United have reportedly responded after Grimsby Town was found guilty of fielding an ineligible player.
The League Two side played Harambee Stars player Clarke Oduor despite registering him 60 seconds past the official deadline.Back in 2019, Liverpool faced a similar situation when they used a player who hadn’t yet been cleared after returning from a loan.
Manchester United have made a decision on whether to appeal the ruling against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup.Grimsby Town was fined for playing Harambee Stars player Clarke Oduor (L) against Manchester United.United suffered an embarrassing loss to the fourth-tier side in the second round of the Carabao Cup on August 27.
How Grimsby Town Eliminated Manchester United
The match at Blundell Park went to penalties after United forced a comeback from two goals down. Bryan Mbeumo came off the bench to score his first goal for the club, and Harry Maguire netted one in the final minute to send the game to a shootout.
The penalty shootout was one of the most intense in recent history, with a total of 23 spot kicks taken.
In the initial five rounds, Clarke Oduor missed for Grimsby, giving Matheus Cunha a chance to win it for United but he failed to convert. The sudden death rounds continued until Mbeumo missed his second attempt, eliminating United.
Why Was Grimsby Town Fined?
It has since emerged that Grimsby fielded an ineligible player in the match. Oduor, a Kenyan international, had been registered 60 seconds late after finalizing his move to the club a day earlier.
The EFL imposed a fine on the Mariners, disappointing some United fans who hoped the club would be disqualified.
Will Manchester United Appeal Against Grimsby Town?
According to Mail Sport, the Red Devils have no intention of appealing the EFL’s decision to let Grimsby remain in the competition or to have the match replayed.
United reportedly considered precedents in similar cases before deciding not to escalate the matter further.Fielding an ineligible player in the Carabao Cup often does not result in disqualification. In 2019, Liverpool was fined after playing Pedro Chirivella against MK Dons. Chirivella, who later moved to Nantes and then Panathinaikos, played despite lacking proper international clearance after returning from a loan spell at Spanish club Extremadura.
However, in 2023, Barnsley was kicked out of the FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player. Aiden Marsh, who had been on loan during the first game, was recalled and started the replay against Horsham, violating FA rules. Horsham, a seventh-tier side, advanced to play Sutton United.
What Did Grimsby Town Say About Clarke Oduor?
After the fine, Grimsby manager David Artell released a statement, calling the incident an error and accepting the punishment.
“The registration of Oduor was submitted to the EFL one minute past the deadline, and the issue was not immediately identified due to a computer problem at GrimsbWe accept the fine and fully recognize the importance of following competition rules and regulations. This mistake was not deliberate, and the club acted transparently by self-reporting the breach as soon as it was discovered.Since this incident, we have reviewed our processes thoroughly and implemented stronger measures to ensure it doesn’t happen again. We thank the EFL Board for recognizing our cooperation and intent, and we remain fully committed to maintaining the highest professional and regulatory standards.”
Clarke Oduor was the only Grimsby Town player to miss a penalty against Manchester United.
Harambee Stars Squad for World Cup Qualifiers
Oduor was absent from the Harambee Stars squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Seychelles.
Head coach Benni McCarthy retained most of the squad that reached the quarterfinals of the African Nations Championship on home soil. Captain Michael Olunga is among the foreign-based players included as Kenya chases a long-elusive World Cup spot.
