Explained: Why Manchester United Remain Out of Carabao Cup After Grimsby Fielded Ineligible Kenyan Player

Manchester United’s shock Carabao Cup exit to League Two side Grimsby Town has taken a fresh twist after it emerged that the Mariners fielded an ineligible player during their famous victory.

United, managed by Ruben Amorim, were dumped out of the EFL Cup last week after a dramatic 12-11 penalty shootout loss at Blundell Park. The Red Devils had fought back from 2-0 down to level 2-2, but a tense spot-kick marathon saw Bryan Mbeumo’s miss seal their fate.

Now, it has been confirmed that Grimsby midfielder Clarke Oduor, a Kenyan international, should not have been on the pitch at all.

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Oduor was added to Grimsby’s squad just one minute after the official EFL registration deadline of 12:00 PM the day before the tie. Despite this breach, a “computer error” meant his ineligibility went unnoticed on matchday. Ironically, Oduor went on to miss his penalty during the shootout.

Once the mistake was discovered, Grimsby immediately reported themselves to the EFL and accepted responsibility.

Many Manchester United fans had hoped the revelation would see their side reinstated into the competition, but EFL rules mean that will not happen.

Instead of expulsion, Grimsby face a fine expected to be between £10,000 and £20,000. The decision reflects precedent, with previous similar breaches in the League Cup resolved through financial penalties rather than overturning results.

In contrast, the FA Cup operates under stricter rules—clubs fielding ineligible players are expelled, as Barnsley discovered in 2023 when Horsham were reinstated after a breach.

For Amorim’s men, the ruling compounds a difficult start to the season. Already out of the Carabao Cup, United have picked up just four points from their opening three Premier League fixtures, leaving them ninth in the standings.

The Red Devils must now regroup, with attention turning back to the league and Europe, as Grimsby march on in the cup despite the administrative blunder.