‘ Barnsley are officially removed ‘

Emirates Cup:

A Professional Game Board Sub-Committee has removed Barnsley from the 2023/24 Emirates FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player during their First Round Proper Replay against Horsham

No excuse for this, very poor from Barnsley. Every club knows the rules and the FA remind them at the start of every season.

Feel sorry for their fans that their cup run ends like this.


But brilliant for seventh tier Horsham, who are now in the Second Round against Sutton - chance for them to get into Round Three and maybe get a high profile game.

Barnsley have been kicked out of the FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player in their first-round replay win at non-league Horsham.

The seventh-tier side will now play League Two Sutton United in round two.

The League One Tykes had won the replay 3-0 last week after drawing 3-3 in the initial tie at Oakwell.

"We would like to apologise to our fans, players and staff for this regrettable error," they said in a statement on the club website.

Although Barnsley have not named the player, Football Association rules state only players who are eligible for the initial FA Cup tie can feature in a replay.

Forward Aiden Marsh was on loan at National League side York City when the first game took place on 3 November, before being recalled three days later. The 20-year-old then started in the replay in West Sussex on 14 November.

"This mistake - although unintentional - falls way below the high standards we set at this club and is simply not what you deserve," Barnsley's statement added.

"We have already conducted a full internal investigation and have subsequently put safeguards in place to ensure this will never happen again."

Barnsley can appeal, but the Tykes said they had accepted the decision.

The ruling means Isthmian League Premier Division side Horsham will now play in the second round of the FA Cup for only the second time in their history.