GRIMSBY fans have been left raging after their League Two clash with Crewe Alexander was postponed due to Manchester City’s U21s being away on international duty.
Man City’s youth side had their EFL Trophy clash with Derby – scheduled for September 20 – postponed.
They made this request due to 18 of their squad being called up for international duty.
This had a knock-on effect as the fixture was re-arranged for October 18.
And with three of the four remaining Tuesdays in October being taken up by the UEFA Youth League, it means Man City’s game with Grimsby will be pushed into November.
And that has led to the EFL postponing Grimsby’s home league game with Crewe.
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The Football Supporters’ Association tweeted: “Grimsby’s upcoming League Two fixture against Crewe Alexandra has been postponed because, in a bizarre set of events, Man City’s U21 side has too many internationals in it – the first time we know of a senior men’s game in the EFL being called off because of an U21 side.”
This is the first time ever that a senior men’s league game in the EFL has been postponed due to a Premier League’s U21s side.
And the Mariners Trust – a supporters group for Grimsby – slammed the decision, insisting the game should instead be re-arranged for Tuesday, November 15.
They said: “Grimsby Town fans are rightly angry that a fixture has been allowed to be rescheduled and then postponed a matter of weeks later when it could all have been avoided if, as it seems, rules of the competition were adhered to.
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“What consultation was taken with either Club and was more weight given to Manchester City in this scenario, as fans seem to feel is the case?”
They then went on to add: “The integrity of this competition further declines.
“It seems apparent to fans, unless you can state otherwise, that the wishes of an invited team have been held in higher regard than an EFL league game and indeed the actual rules of the competition.
“Grimsby Town and Crewe Alexandra fans have been impacted by other teams’ unavailability and that doesn’t seem right.”
Both the FSA and Mariners Trust say they have approached the EFL for an explanation regarding the fixture rearrangement.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
