Grimsby Town’s fairy-tale victory over Manchester United in the Carabao Cup has been marred by controversy, as the English Football League (EFL) confirmed the club breached competition rules by fielding an ineligible player during the second-round tie.

The League Two side, who stunned United with a dramatic 12–11 penalty shootout win at Blundell Park after a 2–2 draw in regular time, have been fined £20,000 by the EFL. Half of the fine—£10,000—has been suspended until the end of the 2025/26 season.

The breach centers around the registration of midfielder Clarke Oduor, whose paperwork was submitted at 12:01pm the day before the match—just one minute past the official deadline of 12:00pm as stipulated in the Carabao Cup rules. The club self-reported the error after discovering the oversight following the match.

What the Carabao Cup Rules Say

Under Carabao Cup regulations, all players must be properly registered by the deadline set ahead of each fixture. Failure to comply can result in:

• Expulsion from the competition
• Match forfeiture
• Financial penalties

In this case, the EFL Board, acting as the Management Committee of the Carabao Cup, opted for a financial sanction rather than overturning the result, citing Grimsby’s transparency and lack of intent to deceive.

“The Board further noted the Club’s non-compliance was not deliberate,” the EFL stated, adding that Grimsby has since taken steps to prevent similar errors in the future.

Despite the administrative misstep, Grimsby will retain their place in the next round of the competition. However, the club remains under scrutiny, with the suspended portion of the fine set to be activated if another breach occurs before the end of the season.

The incident serves as a cautionary tale for clubs across the league, highlighting the importance of strict adherence to registration protocols—even down to the minute.

Orlando Pirates Football Club has confirmed that Head Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and five members of the club’s staff sustained serious injuries in a road traffic incident on Sunday night. The accident occurred on the R21 highway as the team was returning from Gqeberha, where they had secured a commanding 3–0 win over Chippa United.

According to a statement released by the club, the group had stopped to assist victims of a collision between two vehicles when tragedy struck. While attending to the scene, a Nissan NP200 reportedly crashed into the stationary vehicles, hitting Ouaddou and the staff members who had disembarked from the team bus to help.

All six individuals were rushed to hospital and are currently receiving medical treatment. The club emphasized that it is in close contact with the medical team and will provide updates on their condition as they become available.

“At this stage, our priority is the health and wellbeing of our colleagues,” the statement read. “The Club has made arrangements to ensure that the affected individuals and their families receive all the necessary support during this difficult time.”

Orlando Pirates has requested privacy for those involved as they focus on recovery, adding that further updates will be shared when appropriate.

The football community has responded with an outpouring of support, as fans and fellow clubs express concern and solidarity with the injured.

Below is the full statement from Orlando Pirates Football Club:

“Orlando Pirates Football Club can confirm that Head Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and five members of the club’s staff were involved in a road traffic incident on Sunday night.

The incident occurred on the R21 highway as the team returned from Gqeberha, following their hard-fought 3–0 victory against Chippa United. Upon encountering a collision between two vehicles, Coach Ouaddou and several staff members disembarked from the team bus to assist those involved. Tragically, while attending to the scene, a Nissan NP200 vehicle collided with the stationary vehicles, striking the group and causing serious injuries.

Coach Ouaddou, along with the five affected staff members, were immediately transported to hospital, where they are currently receiving medical care. The Club is in close contact with the medical team and will provide updates on their recovery in due course.

At this stage, our priority is the health and wellbeing of our colleagues. The Club has made arrangements to ensure that the affected individuals and their families receive all the necessary support during this difficult time.

We ask for privacy and respect for those involved as they focus on recovery. Further updates will be communicated when appropriate.”

The Chibuku Super Cup makes a return to Nyamhunga Stadium this weekend with two exciting Round One fixtures lined up for football fans.

On Saturday, September 6, ZPC Kariba will go head-to-head with Chicken Inn, while on Sunday, September 7, Herentals will take on Highlanders in what promises to be another thrilling encounter.

These matches come after the initial fixtures were postponed as Nyamhunga Stadium was unavailable due to preparations for the Heroes Day celebrations. With the venue now ready, fans can expect top-level football action as the teams battle for a place in the next round of the competition.Kick-off for both matches is set for 15:00 hrs.