Liverpool tripped over a case due to playing a player who did not meet the requirements. This happened during the match against MK Don. Liverpool were investigated by the EFL (English Football League) after their young Spanish player, Pedro Chirivella, played in the 2-0 win over MK Dons in the League Cup on Wednesday (09/25/2019).
The 22-years-old player apparently does not have an international transfer certificate. Chirivella must have documents from the FA after being loaned out to Spanish club Extremadura last season. Currently Chirivella plays as midfielder in Liverpool.
The Reds requested the paperwork in July but the process can only be completed with the Football Association’s intervention and that, is where the club are believed to have made the error.
Hence, the club is threatened to be dropped from the competition, which was nicknamed Carabao Cup because of this. However, the EFL decided not to remove the Reds from the competition because of a less fatal error.
The EFL issued the following statement: “Based on a comprehensive review of all the evidence, the Board decided that it was inappropriate to remove the club (Liverpool) from the competition due to a number of mitigating factors”. However, Liverpool continue to receive a fine of 200,000 pounds which is half suspended until the end of the 2020-2021 season.
Liverpool have also responded to that. “The club accepts the judgment, results and penalties imposed by the EFL,” the club said in a statement from Mirror.co.uk.
“We believe it’s worth the technical mistakes we made. Even though there are mitigating factors, which are beyond the control of the club, we feel the need to apologize to the competition organizers, and also to MK Dons.”
In addition, Klopp raised concern. “It didn’t happen on purpose, but my only real concern is the player. He had already a problem, Pedro, that he could not play half a year in Spain and if he were not allowed to play now until it is sorted that would be the biggest problem.”, he said.
Liverpool won the Carabao Cup match against MK Dons 2-0. Goals scored by James Milner in the 41st minute, and Ki-Jana Hoever in the 69th minute. With that result, Liverpool managed to advance to the fourth round against Arsenal. Liverpool’s match against Arsenal will be held at Anfield on 30 October 2019.
