Aston Villa punished but remain in Conti Cup after selection error vs Sunderland
Aston Villa Women have been handed a three-point deduction for after fielding an illegible player in the Conti Cup, meaning they remain in the competition despite the FA punishment
Aston Villa remain in the Continental League Cup despite being handed a three-point deduction by the FA after fielding an illegible player during their 7-0 win over Sunderland.
Goals from Alisha Lehmann, Jordan Nobbs, Rachel Corsie, Ebony Salmon and Adriana Leon saw Carla Ward's side book their place in the quarter-finals of the competition with a comprehensive victory over the Black Cats last Wednesday night. However, the introduction of full-back Noëlle Maritz as a second-half substitute has resulted in the FA retrospectively awarding Sunderland the points.
Maritz moved to Bescot Stadium from Women's Super League (WSL) rivals Arsenal earlier this month. The Switzerland international was introduced in the second half against Sunderland, despite already being Cup-tied having played three times for the Gunners in the competition earlier in the season. Maritz started Arsenal's 3-1 victory over Bristol City in November, along with the 2-1 victory over Southampton later that same month. Another appearance arrived in the dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Tottenham Hotspur in December, which the Gunners won 4-3.
READ | Major Morgan Rogers to Aston Villa transfer update as third bid tabled
READ | Tielemans starts, Bailey returns - Aston Villa starting XI vs Newcastle picked
As a result, her introduction against Sunderland was in breach of Conti Cup rule 8.14, which deals with the fielding of an ineligible player. An FA statement released on Monday said: "An independent tribunal have deducted three points from Aston Villa for fielding an ineligible player during their FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup group stage fixture against Sunderland on Wednesday 24 January 2024.
"The FA alleged that the player was ineligible for this game, as she had previously featured in the competition for her former club, which constitutes a breach of Cup Rule 8.19. Aston Villa admitted this charge and acknowledged the breach had occurred. The independent tribunal ordered that the points deducted from Aston Villa be awarded to their opponents Sunderland, while the 7-0 scoreline is to be expunged from the record.
"As a result, Sunderland will finish as Group A Winners, with Aston Villa progressing to the quarter finals as one of the two best-placed runners-up alongside Tottenham Hotspur."
With Villa and Sunderland now both progressing to the quarter-finals, Manchester United will no longer advance as one of the best second-placed sides - a decision which the Reds could contest in the coming weeks.