Aston Villa could face punishment for fielding an ineligible player in their Continental League Cup game against Sunderland on Wednesday night - with the ramifications potentially affecting Manchester United’s progression in the competition.
Noelle Maritz, who joined Villa from Arsenal in January, came off the bench in their 7-0 victory over Sunderland - which ensured their progression to the quarter-finals as Group A winners.
But Maritz had already played three times for Arsenal earlier in the competition - against Bristol City, Southampton and Tottenham.
Mail Sport understands that the Football Association are investigating, with rules stating that players cannot play for more than one club in the competition.
The FA’s rules say: ‘Any Club found to have played an ineligible Player in a Cup Match or Cup Matches shall be in breach of these Rules and the matter shall be referred to an Independent Tribunal for determination pursuant to Rule 3.7.1(d).
‘Subject to Rule 8.14.3, the Independent Tribunal may: (a) order that the Cup Match or Cup Matches be awarded to the opposition Club; or (c) make any such other order that the Independent Tribunal may decide.
'The Independent Tribunal may determine not to order that the Cup Match be awarded to the opposition Club only in circumstances where the ineligibility is due to the failure to obtain an International Transfer Certificate or where the ineligibility is related to the Player’s status.’
‘The Independent Tribunal may determine not to order that the Cup Match be awarded to the opposition Club only in circumstances where the ineligibility is due to the failure to obtain an International Transfer Certificate or where the ineligibility is related to the Player’s status.’
Possible ramifications include Villa being expelled from the competition. The situation would become complicated if the victory is awarded to Sunderland, which the rules appear to suggest is the default position.
Only two teams that finish in second place in their group progress to the knockouts alongside the five winners and Chelsea, who automatically qualify due to their participation in the Champions League.
Should Sunderland be awarded three points, they would finish on 10 - one more than Manchester United, who were beaten by rivals City in their final group game.
'United boss Skinner said it would be a ‘mockery’ if his team were to suffer because of another club’s mistake.
'Of course you’re aware, you have to be aware. Mistakes can happen of course, but that should not be at the detriment to Manchester United,’ Skinner said.
‘I think it would be a mockery of the league if we did that. So I suggest that we need to make sure that Manchester United go through, especially with how hard we’ve had to work for it.’
In a previous case where Reading were found to have fielded an ineligible player in 2014, they were removed from the competition.
Freya Gregory, who returned to Villa earlier this month after a loan spell at Reading, was also cup tied but did not travel with the squad for Wednesday’s game.