Key Takeaways:
- Grimsby Town eliminated Manchester United from the Carabao Cup despite fielding an ineligible player on August 26
- The League Two side received a £20,000 fine, with £10,000 suspended until the end of the current season
- Manchester United have five days to appeal the English Football League’s decision
Incident Overview
Grimsby Town, competing in England’s fourth tier, pulled off a major upset by knocking Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup during the competition’s second round. However, controversy emerged after it was revealed that Grimsby had fielded Clarke Oduor, a loan signing from Bradford City, who had not been registered in time for the fixture. Oduor, introduced as a substitute in the 73rd minute, went on to miss a penalty later in the match.
From the sublime to the ridiculous…
Grimsby have been fined £20,000 for fielding an ineligible player in the their Carabao Cup win over Manchester United.
The club said it "was not deliberate with no intention to deceive or mislead".#MUFC #GTFC #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/7LeS2oZ47l
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) September 2, 2025
Registration Error and Sanctions
The registration paperwork for Oduor was completed just one minute past the 12:00 p.m. deadline on August 26. Grimsby Town self-reported the administrative oversight to the English Football League, which stated the error was “unintentional and with no intention to deceive or mislead.” Consequently, rather than expelling Grimsby from the tournament and granting Manchester United passage to the next round, the authorities imposed a £20,000 fine, suspending £10,000 of it until the end of the current season.
| Club | Offence | Penalty | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grimsby Town | Fielded ineligible player (Clarke Oduor) | £20,000 fine (£10,000 suspended) | Remains in Carabao Cup |
| Manchester United | Eliminated in second round | Eligible to appeal within five days | Knocked out |
Reactions and Next Steps
This decision has sparked discontent among segments of Manchester United’s fanbase, many of whom feel the sanction is insufficient and believe the club should have advanced in Grimsby’s stead. The English Football League has confirmed that Manchester United have a five-day window to launch an appeal against the ruling.
