Bradford City kicked out of FA Cup for fielding ineligible player

The Bantams have until 5pm today to decide if they are to appeal against the punishment for playing Newcastle United loanee Curtis Good in last Friday’s 1-1 draw with Brentford in the second round.

City wete told of the FA’s ruling this morning after appearing at a personal hearing with the Football Association yesterday. (Dec 6)

Bradford officials are locked in meetings today to decide whether it is worth filing an appeal

If the club fail to overturn the decision, the Bees will play either Bury or Southend United in the FA Cup third round as the scheduled December 18 at Griffin Park will not take place.

A statement from the FA reads: “ FA has confirmed that Bradford City have been removed from The FA Cup after fielding an ineligible player in their second round tie against Brentford.

“Bradford City did not have the necessary written permission for Curtis Good to play in the competition, while on loan from Newcastle United, by the 12pm deadline on Friday November 30 prior to the fixture that evening.

“Bradford’s removal from the competition is subject to appeal, but if this appeal is unsuccessful Brentford will go forward to the third round and play either Bury or Southend United.”

Good made his debut in the Brentford game on November 30 after joining from Newcastle. He also played on Tuesday night at Port Vale in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

A Bradford statement read: “Bradford City Football Club were charged by the FA of rule 15 (j) (i) on Monday 3 December 2012 in relation to their FA Cup with Budweiser Second Round encounter with Brentford on the 30 November 2012.

“The nature of the charge is the playing of one of our loan players deemed ineligible due to the late submission for permission for him to play. Bradford City Football Club is very sorry to have to report such a matter and apologies to our fans.

“The error was of an administrative technical nature and not one to intentionally break competition rules.

“We presented a case of mitigation to the FA on Thursday 6 December, however the FA panel chose to enforce the full powers of its jurisdiction and have removed the club from the FA Cup competition.

“We are clearly disappointed by this decision and cannot comment further on this matter as the club is still actively conducting a full investigation. The club has until 5:00pm today (Friday) to lodge an appeal with the FA and we are currently reviewing our position in relation to this.”

Brentford chief executive Mark Devlin admitted he had sympathy with Bradford and would have preferred to have advanced in the competition another way.

He told Sky Sports News: “It is not a satisfactory way to progress, we would much rather prefer to progress by winning a match but the FA have made their decision and that’s it really.

“The first we heard of anything was on Monday afternoon and internally we just held off before putting tickets out for sale for the replay and just waited for the FA’s decision from yesterday’s committee hearing.

“It is the FA’s competition, the FA make the rules which we all know about. Whether we feel sympathetic or not does not come into play really. It is the FA’s decision. I do have some sympathies with Bradford.

“It is entirely a matter for the FA and Bradford City Football Club. I don’t think we will be asked to get involved any further at this stage.”