Navigating The FA Cup Player Eligibility Rules for 2023-24 and pitfalls to avoid for football clubs

Thursday, 21 December 2023 Author: Lydia Banerjee, Joseph Bryan

Within the last few weeks an unusual event has happened not once but twice: clubs competing in the FA Cup have fielded an ineligible player and had to pay a heavy price. This article addresses the player eligibility rules for participation in the FA Cup 2023-24, with a focus on two recent high-profile incidents of clubs fielding an ineligible player. The article also provides practical advice for clubs to achieve compliance with the relevant regulations.

This article considers:

Recent cases
- Barnsley FC
- Forest Green Rovers
What are the key FA Cup Rules governing the eligibility of players?
How can clubs defend a charge of fielding an ineligible player?
What can clubs do in practice to avoid the pitfalls?
Conclusion

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Tags: Dispute Resolution | Football | Governance | Ineligibility Regulations | Regulation | The FA Cup | The Football Association (The FA) | United Kingdom (UK)

Written by

Lydia Banerjee

Lydia Banerjee co-leaders the Littleton Sports law group. Lydia regularly acts as counsel and/or as arbitrator in various sports; particularly by reference to her expertise in safeguarding, athlete welfare and equalities law issues. She frequently appears as a panellist and speaker at domestic and international sporting conferences, is on the LawInSport Editorial Board and on the Sports Resolutions panel of arbitrators.

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Joseph Bryan

Joseph Bryan is a junior barrister specialising in sports, employment and commercial law. He practises from Littleton Chambers, where he is a member of the Sports Law Group. His sports-related practice includes advising and representing clients in proceedings in the IAAF Disciplinary Tribunal, the National Anti-Doping Panel and the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as well as in arbitrations and civil litigation. He sits as a chair of the FA’s National Serious Case Panel and is a member of Sport Resolutions’ Panel.