5 months ago
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Even the smallest of mistakes can be costly in the world of football.
This particular mistake has sent Manchester United's hopes of League Cup glory up in flames.
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Fans have been left asking how something like this could possibly have been allowed to happen.
But the better question now seems: how could the same manager have possibly allowed this to happen twice?
An FA investigation concluded that, in the final group game of the Women's Continental Tyres League Cup, Aston Villa fielded an ineligible player.
Former Arsenal player Noelle Maritz appeared for them in their 7-0 victory over Sunderland.
But, Maritz - who had only just made the move over from the Gunners in early January - had already appeared for Arsenal in earlier League Cup games.
It meant the defender was cup-tied and should never have been allowed to play in the fixture.
The FA investigation concluded Sunderland would instead be awarded the three points for that fixture - but that Aston Villa would face no other punishment.
The upshot to all of this was that Manchester United, who finished second in their group below Manchester City, would no longer qualify as one of the best second-place finishers because their goal difference was lower than Aston Villa's.
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Villa's mistake ended up costing them very little in the end; but Manchester United have been denied the chance of a first ever League Cup trophy.
Villa boss Carla Ward admitted it was been 'a horrible mistake' and one that she was taking very seriously.
But England's highest capped player of all time, Fara Williams, has since pointed out that this is not the first time Ward has made this particular error.
Speaking on talkSPORT's Women's Football Show with her former teammate Lianne Sanderson, she reflected on how history seemed to be repeating itself.
She said: “This is crazy. Carla Ward made the same mistake when she was Birmingham City Women’s manager.
"She played an ineligible player in the Cup and they got fined for it and she’s done the exact same thing at another club."
Ward served as Birmingham City boss from 2020 to 2021, where she guided them to finish 11 out of 12 teams in the WSL, narrowly escaping relegation.
During that time, Birmingham City were deducted a point and fined £400 after midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn appeared in a fixture against Reading, despite being ineligible to play.
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Littlejohn, who now plays for Championship club London City Lionesses, had been suspended as a result of a previous game and had not yet served her ban - although the club believed she had.
Birmingham City stated at the time that the mistake was due to " a genuine administrative error".
It was an error that almost proved costly, as Birmingham escaped relegation from the WSL by just two points in the end.
And Williams said the fact Ward had now allowed an ineligible player to appear twice was shocking.
She said: "I don’t know how you can make that mistake twice as a coach.”
She added: “I think it’s lazy, it is really lazy because she would've known that she would've played."
Ward confirmed there would be an investigation into how the error had occurred.
But the failure to be informed about Maritz' situation was just not good enough, according to Williams.
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She said: "Especially when you’re a player that isn’t playing regularly in the WSL, you normally get opportunities in the Cup games, like the Conti Cup or the early stages of the FA Cup.
"The reason why Maritz signed for Villa was because she probably wanted more playing time. So (Ward) would’ve known that she'd only had opportunities within the Cup.
"So again, it’s like you’ve bought a player to the club - is it a player that you wanted? Is it a player that the club has taken on?
"Because if it’s a player that you wanted, then you should know more than what you've shown you know about them."
Following the FA's decision, Manchester United released a statement expressing their disapproval of the decision.
It read: "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."
Red Devils manager Marc Skinner - who is facing calls for his departure anyway - had previously expressed his frustration with the situation while the investigation was ongoing.
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Speaking after Manchester United's derby loss in their final League Cup group game, he said: "I actually don't think we have a say in it even though it can directly affect us.
"I will just reiterate what I said the other night in that I hope the right decision is made and it's not to the detriment of Manchester United.
"We did everything we can to qualify from the most difficult group and I feel hopefully the right decision is made and doesn't scold Manchester United."
The decision leaves Manchester United with just the WSL and the FA Cup to contest - although their hopes of silverware in the former competition are fading fast.
They now sit ten points off leaders Chelsea and seven points of second and third placed Manchester City and Arsenal.
But despite Manchester United's indignation, Sunderland and Aston Villa will both progress to the next stages of the League Cup - and they will not.
The quarter-finals on February 7 and 8 will see Chelsea host Sunderland while Aston Villa travel to Brighton.
Elsewhere, WSL sides Tottenham and Manchester City will face off in a huge fixture.
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Meanwhile, defending champions Arsenal take on the London City Lionesses as they look to ruin Chelsea's hopes of a quadruple in Emma Hayes' final season in charge.
You can listen to talkSPORT's Women's Football Show on Mondays from 7pm on talkSPORT 2.
