Barnsley thrown out of FA Cup after fielding ineligible player - 'This will never happen again'

Barnsley have been thrown out of the FA Cup after it was discovered they fielded an ineligible player in their first-round replay against non-league side Horsham last week.

The League One side won the replay 3-0 after drawing 3-3 at home but have now been stripped of their place in the second round, with Horsham set to take on League Two’s Sutton United.

“Today the FA has advised us that we will no longer be able to participate in the FA Cup this season,” a statement on the Barnsley website read.

“We would like to apologise to our fans, players and staff for this regrettable error. This mistake - although unintentional - falls way below the high standards we set at this club and is simply not what you deserve.

“We have already conducted a full internal investigation and have subsequently put safeguards in place to ensure this will never happen again.”

While the identity of the ineligible player has not been released, only a player eligible for the original tie can be picked for a replay under FA Cup Rule 103.

Barnsley can still appeal but the FA statement on the matter stated the club have "admitted this charge and acknowledged that the breach had occurred."

The outcome means Horsham, who play in the Isthmian League, will feature in the second round of the FA Cup for just the second time in the club’s history.

Horsham chairman Kevin Borrett said: “The Barnsley chairman Neerav Parekh contacted me on Friday 17th November to make the club aware of the administrative error and FA consideration of the matter.

“I understand the immense disappointment that this decision by the FA would be to both Barnsley Football Club and its supporters. On behalf of HFC, I wish Barnsley FC every success in their pursuit of promotion back to the EFL Championship at the end of the 2023/24 season.”

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