Grimsby Town has received a fine of £20,000 from the English Football League (EFL) after accidentally fielding an ineligible player in their upset victory over Manchester United in the Carabao Cup. Out of this amount, half—£10,000—is suspended until the end of the 2025/26 season.
The incident happened during the second round match on August 27, 2025. Grimsby Town brought on midfielder Clarke Oduor as a substitute. Oduor had just joined the club on loan from Bradford City the day before but was registered too late—almost two minutes past the registration deadline of 12:00 PM BST.
The EFL explained that Grimsby Town registered Oduor at 12:01 PM, which was after the deadline, making him ineligible to play. Despite this, the club still fielded him in the match, which they won after a dramatic penalty shootout, 12-11, knocking out Manchester United from the competition.
Interestingly, Manchester United had fought back from two goals down to tie the game in regular time. Oduor even took a penalty in the shootout but missed, which was a crucial moment. The game ended with Grimsby Town progressing to Round Three.
The club was quick to admit the mistake, reporting the registration error immediately after the match. The EFL stated that the breach was unintentional, with no evidence of any cheating or deceit. In response, Grimsby Town has taken steps to improve their registration process to avoid such errors in the future.
The fine includes a warning: if Grimsby Town fields an ineligible player again in any league game before the end of the 2025/26 season, the suspended £10,000 will be enforced. This means they could face stricter penalties if similar mistakes happen again.
This incident highlights how even small registration errors can lead to significant consequences in football. Fans and clubs alike are reminded to follow the rules closely to ensure fair play on the field.
