Grimsby Town has been hit with a £20,000 fine for fielding an ineligible player after a thrilling Carabao Cup win over Manchester United, but don’t expect the Red Devils to make a comeback in the competition! A simple registration mix-up involving loanee Clarke Oduor has led to this penalty. Oduor joined from Bradford City just a day before the match and played against United, however, his papers were filed a minute late. Grimsby self-reported the mishap, and while they’ve been fined, they’re not booted from the Cup.
The EFL acknowledged the club’s transparency and has suspended £10,000 of the fine until the end of the 2025/26 season. If there’s another player blunder, Grimsby would need to pay the full amount. While the club wasn’t trying to pull a fast one, they’re now tightening procedures to prevent similar errors. Grimsby accepted the decision, calling it an unfortunate tech glitch that delayed the registration. They’ve learned their lesson and are working to ensure all future signings are spot-on with the rules.
Manchester United fans may have hoped for a lifeline, but Grimsby stands strong moving into Round Three after a dramatic 12-11 shoot-out victory. The Mariners are now fully focused on preparing for their upcoming matches. Keep an eye on them—they might just surprise us again! ⚽️