Grimsby Town fined $27,000 for fielding an ineligible player against Manchester United

Grimsby Town's unforgettable League Cup second round triumph over Manchester United has come with a $27,018 fine for fielding an ineligible player.

Fourth-tier Grimsby stunned United by eliminating them on penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw in normal time last week. However, the EFL said on Tuesday that midfielder Clarke Oduor, who had joined on loan from Bradford City the previous day, was registered one minute past the 12:00 BST deadline.

Grimsby Town ineligible player

| Grimsby Town had an ineligible player feature in their win over Manchester United in the Carabao Cup. ❌

Clarke Oduor was registered one minute after the deadline. As a result, Grimsby were fined £20,000 (£10,000 of which suspended until end of season) pic.twitter.com/j0K3Le9ZRY

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) September 2, 2025

Grimsby reported the error themselves, saying the breach was unintentional.

"The registration of Oduor was submitted at 12:01 due to a computer issue, which wasn't immediately spotted," the club said in a statement. "We accept the fine and fully recognize the importance of following competition rules."

The club must pay 10,000 pounds now, with the remaining 10,000 suspended until the end of the season.

"We acted swiftly and transparently, and we're committed to the highest professional standards," the club said.

Grimsby Town FC has issued a statement acknowledging the EFL's decision to fine the Club for a late player registration.#GTFC

— Grimsby Town F.C. (@officialgtfc) September 2, 2025

Grimsby face Championship side Sheffield Wednesday in the third round.

(Reporting by Lori Ewing, Editing by Christian Radnedge)