Table of Contents
- Clarke Sydney Oduor Omondi is a Kenyan international playing for English Football League (EFL) League Two club Grimsby Town
- Grimsby shocked United by winning a penalty shootout 12 goals to 11 at Blundell Park
- The club booked Oduor into the system one minute after the deadline before the Round Two match on August 27, 2025
Clarke Sydney Oduor Omondi, a Kenyan international playing for English Football League (EFL) League Two club Grimsby Town shot to stardom amidst controversy.
His club was fined Ksh3.5million (£20,000) for breaching EFL rules. Grimsby fielded him to play against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup.
The Mariners won this match against the Red Devils. However, the English Football League (EFL) announced on Tuesday that Grimsby violated competition regulations.
The club booked Oduor into the system one minute after the deadline before the Round Two match on August 27, 2025.
Grimsby shocked United by winning a penalty shootout 12 goals to 11 at Blundell Park to advance into Round Three.
What is the Controversy about Clarke Sydney Oduor Omondi?
Reports indicate that Clarke Sydney Oduor Omondi was ineligible for this match. He submitted his paperwork at 12:01 pm, which was just before the 12:00 pm deadline as required by the EFL.
Clarke Sydney Oduor Omondi, a Kenyan international playing for English Football League (EFL) League Two club Grimsby Town. Photo/People Daily
Though the breach was self-reported by the Mariners, the fact remains that Oduor was not eligible to play at all.
The EFL Board emphasized that the error was not intentional and that there was no intention to cheat and mislead.
EFL fined Grimsby £20,000 for the breaching rules. However, half of that fine (£10,000) won’t be paid right away, as long as the club doesn’t field another ineligible candidate before the end of the 2025/26 season.
If they do make the same mistake again before the 2025/26 season ends, they’ll have to pay the suspended £10,000 too.
Where is Odour Playing on Loan?
To Oduor, 26, the incident appears just days after the close of a loan transfer between Grimsby and Bradford City.
The two teams signed a loan’s deal for Clarke Sydney Oduor Omondi on August 26, 2025. The Kenyan-born midfielder and left-back has had a progressive ascent in the English football ladder.
Clarke Sydney Oduor Omondi, a Kenyan international playing for English Football League (EFL) League Two club Grimsby Town . Photo/EA Sports FC
His football career traces back to Leeds United Academy where he started playing in 2019. He famously scored a last-minute goal to keep Barnsley in the Championship in 2020.
Oduor joined Grimsby after taking a loan at Hartlepool and a permanent transfer to Bradford City, hoping to get playing time there. His arrival was, however, temporarily dwarfed by the ineligibility fine.
Back home, he joined Kenya’s Harambee Stars, making his debut in two two-goal-to-one victory over Zambia in October 2020.
His exceptional football skills saw him emerge as one of the players of great interest in making the national team.
Further, his penalty victory over Manchester United still stands for Grimsby despite the EFL fine. Oduor is likely to be a major player in the League Two season as the club irons out eligibility issues.
