Grimsby Town has been fined £20,000 for fielding an ineligible player during their remarkable Carabao Cup victory over Manchester United. The League Two side pulled off a stunning upset by knocking out the Premier League giants after a penalty shootout that ended 12-11, following a 2-2 draw in regulation time. However, the achievement was tarnished when it was revealed that midfielder Clarke Oduor had been registered just seconds past the deadline for the match.

Oduor, who had joined Grimsby on loan from Bradford City the day before the match, came on as a substitute in the 73rd minute and had his penalty saved during the shootout. The club self-reported the breach to the EFL, clarifying that the registration error was unintentional and caused by a computer issue. Grimsby will pay an immediate fine of £10,000, with the remaining £10,000 suspended until the end of the season.

The EFL confirmed that Manchester United will not pursue a return to the competition despite the ineligibility of Oduor. This ruling follows a precedent set in previous cases where clubs have faced similar fines for fielding ineligible players, including Liverpool, Accrington Stanley, and Sunderland, all of whom won their respective matches.

Grimsby Town is set to face Sheffield Wednesday in the third round of the Carabao Cup later this month. The club has acknowledged its mistake and expressed a commitment to improving its processes to prevent such issues in the future, emphasizing the importance of compliance with competition regulations.