Barnsley THROWN OUT of the FA Cup after they fielded an ineligible player in first-round replay win over Horsham… with the non-league side taking their place in round two

• Barnsley won the replay at Horsham 3-0 to progress to the second round
• The League One club has admitted an ‘administrative error’ and apologised
• Trent and Bellingham can play together but can’t get in each other’s way – IAKO 

Barnsley have been thrown out of the FA Cup after they fielded an ineligible player in their first-round replay victory over non-league side Horsham.

The League One outfit have been forced to apologise for an ‘administrative error’, which they described as a ‘regrettable’ mistake.

Barnsley were held to a 3-3 draw by the seventh-tier team at Oakwell before they comfortably won 3-0 at Horsham in the replay last week.

The Tykes have accepted the charge and are unlikely to appeal. It means Horsham, who play in the Isthmian Premier League, are now just one game away from a potential blockbuster tie against a Premier League team.

The FA confirmed Horsham will go through to the second round, where they will face League Two side Sutton United on December 2.

Barnsley have been thrown out of the FA Cup after fielding an ineligible player in the win over Horsham

Seventh-tier side Horsham will now progress to the second round of the FA Cup

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Barnsley, who won the FA Cup in 1912, have not confirmed the identity of the player who was deemed ineligible. The FA only said it was because he was not ‘correctly registered’.

The club have also not announced whether they plan to reimburse Barnsley fans who have already made travel arrangements for the 405-mile round trip to Sutton for the second-round clash in 10 days’ time.

In a statement on Wednesday, Barnsley said: ‘Today the FA has advised us that we will no longer be able to participate in the FA Cup this season.

‘An administrative error was brought to our attention regarding the eligibility of a player who played in last Tuesday’s game with Horsham FC. 

‘The club has fully cooperated with the investigation and has accepted the FA’s decision. We have been in contact with Horsham FC and would like to thank the club and Chairman for their understanding and cooperation throughout this process.

‘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.’

The FA said: ‘The FA alleged that the player was ineligible for this replay, as he was not correctly registered and eligible for the original first round proper match on Friday 3 November 2023, which constitutes a breach of FA Cup Rule 103.

‘Barnsley admitted this charge and acknowledged that the breach had occurred. The sub-committee’s members ordered that Barnsley be removed from the competition, and that Horsham be awarded the tie and progression to the second round proper.

Barnsley had beaten Horsham, who play in the seventh tier, 3-0 in the first-round replay

‘Subject to any appeal by Barnsley, Horsham will now play away to Sutton United in the second round proper on Saturday 2 December 2023.’

Horsham have only made the second round of the FA Cup once before, losing 6-2 to then League One Swansea in 2007.

‘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,’ said Horsham chairman Kevin Borrett.

‘I understand the immense disappointment that this decision by the FA would be to both Barnsley Football Club and its supporters. 

‘On behalf of Horsham FC, I wish Barnsley FC every success in their pursuit of promotion back to the EFL Championship at the end of the 2023/24 season.’

Barnsley are one of the only clubs to ever have been booted out of the FA Cup proper.

In 2006, Bury, then of League Two, became the first team to be kicked out of the competition beyond the qualifying rounds for more than a century. They were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player in a second-round replay victory over Chester City.

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