England fourth tier side Grimsby Town have been fined by the Football Association for fielding Clarke Oduor during their Carabao Cup win over Manchester United.
Oduor came 17 minutes to time in a game that they won in post match penalties and according to a statement from the English Football League (EFL), the club has been fined a sum of £20,000 after failing to register the Kenyan on time.
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Oduor had officially been confirmed as a Grimsby player 24 hours before the game and while his new club has been fined, they will not be kicked out of the competition after the EFL Board believed it ‘was not deliberate with no intention to deceive or mislead.’
“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,” EFL said in a statement.
“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. The Club self-reported the breach upon discovery the day after the fixture had been completed.
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“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.”
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