Wrexham Fined £75,000 By EFL Over Issa Kaboré And Callum O’Hare Eligibility Breaches

The English Football League has fined Wrexham AFC £75,000 after two breaches of player eligibility rules involving summer signings Issa Kaboré and Callum O’Hare.

The club confirmed it had reached an agreed decision with the EFL, with £25,000 of the fine suspended. The breaches related to separate Championship matches against Birmingham City and Millwall earlier this season.

Kaboré appeared as a substitute against Birmingham despite being ineligible, while O’Hare was named in the squad at Millwall but did not play.

The first breach concerned Kaboré’s inclusion in the matchday squad for Wrexham’s 2-1 defeat to Birmingham on 28 August. The Burkina Faso international, who had completed a permanent move from Manchester City after a previous loan spell at Wrexham, came off the bench during the Championship fixture.

In its statement, Wrexham said it held the correct right-to-work documentation for Kaboré but had not submitted it properly to the EFL. That meant he was ineligible for the game.

The second breach concerned O’Hare’s inclusion in the squad for Wrexham’s 3-0 win at Millwall on 2 September. The midfielder joined from Sheffield United the previous day but wasn't registered in time to be eligible for the match. O’Hare was named among the substitutes and remained on the bench throughout.

Wrexham avoided a points deduction that could have dropped the Red Dragons further down the Championship table, where they sit 17th on 14 points.

Wrexham said they were taking steps to prevent similar issues in the future.

BBC Sport Wales reports that the club is improving administrative procedures and is thought to be recruiting a club secretary. A club official also told the BBC that manager Phil Parkinson, his coaching staff, and sporting director Steve Nickson, who was appointed after the two matches, were not to blame for the errors.

The decision comes as Wrexham prepare to face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Friday, with O’Hare set to return to his former club.

Sheffield United have also made an inconsistent start to the Championship season, sitting 12th with 16 points from their opening 12 matches. Chris Wilder’s side have recorded four wins, four draws and four defeats, scoring 16 goals and conceding 15. Their recent form has shown signs of improvement.

Phil Parkinson will hope that his side can pick up three points amid the difficult and inconsistent start; this added distraction isn’t needed during a time when questions are being asked, though recent old comments from Rob Mac have surfaced in which he suggests Parkinson will never be sacked as Wrexham boss.