Controversial ruling leaves Villa in Conti Cup - but United out

An independent tribunal’s ruling means that Manchester United will not progress to the quarter-finals of the Continental Cup - as a result of Aston Villa fielding an ineligible player in the competition earlier this week.

Noelle Maritz featured as a substitute for Villa in their 7-0 win over Sunderland on Wednesday while Manchester United were defeated by Manchester City on the same night - but Marc Skinner’s side were still set to progress with one of the highest points-per-game scores among the runners-up.

However, it quickly emerged that Maritz, who signed for Villa from Arsenal in January, had played for the North London side earlier in the competition. The FA quickly confirmed they were investigating whether Aston Villa had breached the rules, and football fans awaited the adjudication of an independent tribunal on what punishment would be given.

On Monday, the FA announced that the points from Aston Villa’s win were deducted as punishment for fielding an ineligible player and given to their opponents Sunderland - leaving the Championship side at the top of Group A with Villa runners up. The adjustment to points-per-game based on the change left Villa level on this measure with United - but ahead on goal difference, meaning they will progress in United’s place. 

Speaking to BBC Sport, a Manchester United spokesperson said: "We are very disappointed with this outcome and do not understand its rationale.

"We feel that it undermines the integrity of the competition and of the women's game. We are considering our options in response."

Many United fans were hoping that the tribunal would follow a precedent from a decade earlier, when Reading were expelled from the competition for fielding an ineligible player. However, some questioned whether even that decision would have sent United through, or whether Durham would have qualified instead.

United manager Marc Skinner, who has been under pressure after a recent run of poor results, said before the decision was announced: “We did everything we could to qualify from the most difficult group and I feel hopefully the right decision is made and (it) doesn't scold Manchester United."

Questions remain over how Maritz was ever fielded in the fixture, with Carla Ward labelling it a “horrible mistake”. The Villans boss said “internal conversations” had taken place at the club over how the rule was overlooked and it was key that processes were put in place to prevent such issues. 

The decision was announced the day after United’s win over Villa in the Women’s Super League - a game overshadowed for both sides by the wait for the tribunal’s conclusions.

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Continental Cup will take place at 6:30pm on Monday 29th January on BBC News, with fixtures to be played on Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th February.