Manchester United recently suffered a devastating loss to Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup, seeing them eliminated from the competition in their opening fixture.
This marks the first time United have been knocked out of a tournament by a fourth-tier side, adding insult to injury.
The Red Devils were coming into the game looking for their first win of the season, however, Grimsby came out fighting, grabbing two goals in the first half hour to go 2-0 up thanks to poor keeping from Andre Onana.
United managed to claw a couple of goals back at the end of the game thanks to Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire, however it wasn’t enough to get a straight win and avoid penalties.
In the end, the teams took 13 spot-kicks a piece, with Mbeumo failing to convert, ending the sudden death shoot-out with Grimsby on top.
However, it’s since emerged that Grimsby Town fielded an illegible player due to an administrative error which saw Clarke Oduor registered for the competition a minute after the 12:00pm deadline.
The EFL recently submitted a statement explaining the situation and Grimsby’s £20,000 fine, saying: “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.
The statement continued: “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 12:01pm on the day before the fixture i.e. shortly after the 12:00pm 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.”
As the breach was deemed “not deliberate” and with “no intention to deceive or mislead” with the League Two side reporting the issue themselves, the fine was deemed a suitable punishment without disqualifying them from the competition.
However, Nathan Salt of The Daily Mail has taken to X to say that United have no intention of pursuing the situation further by appealing the decision.
Had Grimsby been dismissed from the tournament, United could have been reinstated, which could have seen the club gain much needed revenue.
However, United are reportedly not looking to challenge the decision, seeing the matter as “case closed”.
Manchester United are not pursuing anything further on this is my understanding.
Considered to be case closed #mufc https://t.co/mPlu5AJFu4
— Nathan Salt (@NathSalt1) September 2, 2025
