Man United Women left furious after being knocked out of the Continental League Cup, as Aston Villa avoid expulsion from the competition despite fielding an ineligible player

Manchester United have been eliminated from the Continental League Cup in controversial circumstances, with Aston Villa spared expulsion despite fielding an ineligible player in their final group game.

Villa were deducted three points after Noelle Maritz, who had already played three times in the competition for Arsenal, came off the bench in their 7-0 win over Sunderland.

The case was referred to Sport Resolutions UK for consideration by an independent tribunal, who confirmed there had been a breach of Cup Rule 8.19.

The tribunal decided to award the points to Sunderland, who will now progress to the quarter-finals as group winners.

Villa remain in the competition as one of the best two runners-up, alongside Tottenham, but it comes at the expense of United.

Man United boss Marc Skinner claimed it would make a ‘mockery’ of the competition if his side didn’t go through, but they have now been eliminated after Villa were spared expulsion

Marc Skinner’s side had been due to finish as one of the best second place teams with nine points – two more than Sunderland.

But the tribunal’s decision means the Black Cats now finish on 10 points. Villa’s total has been reduced from 12 to nine, but their superior goal difference means they progress ahead of United.

United are understood to be furious with the outcome and a club statement confirmed that they would consider their options.

‘We are very disappointed with this outcome, and do not understand its rationale,’ the club said.

‘We feel that it undermines the integrity of the competition, and for the women’s game.’

Skinner had previously said removing United would have made a ‘mockery’ of the competition.

‘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.’

Villa boss Carla Ward had said the club’s error was a ‘horrible mistake’.

‘We need to take collective responsibility on how it’s happened,’ said Ward.

Villa boss Carla Ward (pictured) said using an ineligible player was a ‘horrible mistake’, and her side have been given a second chance as they remain in the competition

‘First and foremost as a club we understand there’s been a horrible mistake quite honestly and there’s been some internal conversations and investigations on how it’s happened.

‘We have to ensure we get the right processes in place so this doesn’t happen again.’

In a previous case where Reading were found to have fielded an ineligible player in 2014, they were removed from the competition.

An FA statement read: ‘An independent tribunal have deducted three points from Aston Villa for fielding an ineligible player during their League Cup group stage fixture against Sunderland on Wednesday, 24 January 2024.

‘The FA alleged that the player was ineligible for this game, as she had previously featured in the competition for her former club, which constitutes a breach of Cup Rule 8.19.

‘Aston Villa admitted this charge and acknowledged the breach had occurred. The independent tribunal ordered that the points deducted from Aston Villa be awarded to their opponents Sunderland, while the 7-0 scoreline is to be expunged from the record.

‘As a result, Sunderland will finish as Group A winners, with Aston Villa progressing to the quarter-finals as one of the two best-placed runners-up alongside Tottenham Hotspur.’