Manchester United won’t get a reprieve in the EFL Cup despite Grimsby Town fielding an ineligible player in their dramatic penalty shoot-out win over the Premier League giants last week.
The EFL have instead fined Grimsby after it emerged Clarke Odour, who came on in the 73rd minute of the game at Blundell Park, had been registered to play after the deadline.
Odour signed a season-long loan from Bradford the day before but his registration was submitted a minute past the midday cut-off point.
Odour misses in the shoot-out as Grimsby win
The Kenyan took a spot-kick in the shoot-out but missed with Andre Onana making the save. It mattered little as Grimsby prevailed 12-11 after squandering a 2-0 lead over the 90 minutes.
The EFL acknowledged Grimsby had made a genuine error and opted to issue a £20,000 fine – of which £10,000 is suspended – rather than kick David Artell’s men out of the competition.
An EFL statement read: “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 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.
“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.”
Grimsby highlight mistake
The statement continued: “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.”
