Man Utd learn Carabao Cup fate after Grimsby punished for fielding ineligible player

Manchester United will not get a Carabao Cup reprieve after Grimsby Town fielded an ineligible player against them in their second round giant-killing. A registration error around Clarke Oduor has seen The Mariners fined, rather than kicked out of the competition.

Oduor signed for Grimsby on loan from Bradford City the day before the match against United. He made his debut against the Premier League side, missing a penalty in the shoot-out after coming on as a substitute during the second half.

It later emerged that he was registered just a minute after the permitted 12pm deadline on August 26. In a statement, the EFL has recognised Grimsby reported the error themselves, and explained the punishment for the League Two outfit.

"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 statement read.

"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.

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"The circumstances leading to this transgression are that Grimsby Town submitted the registration of Clarke Oduor at 12:01 pm on the day before the fixture i.e. shortly after the 12:00 pm 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 since implemented 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."

Grimsby issued a statement of their own on the matter. "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," it read.

"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."

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