Shrewsbury fined £30k for ineligible player error

Elyh Harrison has made eight appearances in all competitions for Shrewsbury Town this season

Shrewsbury Town have been fined £30,000 by the English Football League for fielding an ineligible player in their Vertu Trophy game against Chelsea's under-21 side in August.

The loan deal for goalkeeper Elyh Harrison did not included written permission from parent club Manchester United allowing him to play in the EFL Trophy when he signed for Town in July.

Harrison played the whole game against the Blues' youngsters which Town won 3-1.

At an independent disciplinary commission on Thursday, Shrewsbury admitted the breach of rules and took full responsibility.

Half of the club's fine is suspended but will be imposed should they field another ineligible player during the 2025-26 season.

The disciplinary commission revealed that United would have allowed Harrison to play in the competition had they been asked and said Shrewsbury "could have done more" to see if he was clear to play, having "checked the teamsheet on four occasions and failed to identify the player was ineligible".

However, it was ruled that Town's error was not deliberate as "the intentions of the two clubs was always for the player to have the necessary cup permissions".

In a statement to BBC Radio Shropshire, Shrewsbury said they "accept the findings of the independent disciplinary commission and we look forward to our final group stage game as we aim to progress in the competition".

England Under-20 keeper Harrison played six of Shrewsbury's first nine games of the League Two season before losing his place after a 2-0 defeat by Harrogate on 20 September.