Swindon Town have been expelled from the EFL Trophy after an Independent Disciplinary Commission ruled that two ineligible players were fielded during their last-16 tie against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road in January.
The Swindon Town victory, secured by a 2–1 scoreline in Bedfordshire, has been voided following confirmation that captain Ollie Clarke was serving an active suspension at the time of selection.
Removal from the competition has been accompanied by a £40,000 financial penalty, with £20,000 suspended subject to no repeat offence before the conclusion of next season.
Clarke had been banned for seven matches after disciplinary action arising from a Carabao Cup fixture against Cardiff City in August.
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Despite the sanction, Clarke appeared in the EFL Trophy fixture against Luton Town, prompting regulatory scrutiny.
The Football Association had already issued a £1,000 fine for the breach, before the English Football League escalated proceedings.
Swindon Town maintained that internal compliance checks were carried out via the Football Association disciplinary portal, where the list of suspended fixtures did not include the Luton match.
Swindon captain Ollie Clarke played against Luton despite being slapped with a ban
| PAThe club argued that the EFL Trophy was not categorised as a first-team competition within that system, leading to the erroneous clearance.
Anger within the club was evident following the original sanction.
Manager Ian Holloway condemned the handling of the process, describing the conduct of authorities as unprofessional and unacceptable.
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Strong criticism was directed at governance standards, with disciplinary threats dismissed as irrelevant when compared to perceived institutional failings.
Further complications arose from a separate administrative error involving forward Aaron Drinan, whose omission from the official team sheet during a January fixture was acknowledged by the club.
Technical difficulties at Kenilworth Road, including connectivity issues affecting digital submission systems, were cited as contributing factors preventing timely correction.
As a result of the ruling, Luton Town progress to the quarter-finals and will host Plymouth Argyle.
The fixture, originally scheduled for February 10, has been postponed following a formal request from the Devon club.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, Holloway raged at the process with the Swindon boss refusing to mince his words.
Ian Holloway fielded two players who were ineligible in Swindon's match with Luton before later blasting the threat of disciplinary action
| GETTYHe fumed: "We had a terrible blow yesterday where I was told at five o'clock that my captain can't play after we prepared with him in the team.
"I've rung the League Managers Association to complain. I think that's unprofessional.
"They want to fine me? Good! They want to ban me? Good! Do it! Have a look at yourselves. Every single goddamn one of you. It's absolutely disgusting."
The Swindon boss added: "And if Luton go through, good luck to you. We beat you, fair and poxy square.
"I'm not having our club secretary dragged through the coals, left, right and centre.
"You have a look at yourselves first. I know how wrong you are, you cowards."