Forest Green Rovers' FA Cup second-round game has been postponed due to a FA investigation into whether they played an ineligible player in round one; Rovers were due to play Blackpool on Saturday; Barnsley were kicked out of the FA Cup last week for fielding an ineligible player
Friday 1 December 2023 21:33, UK
Forest Green Rovers' FA Cup second-round tie against Blackpool has been postponed due to an FA investigation into whether the League Two side used an ineligible player in round one.
The match was due to take place at 3pm on Saturday at Bloomfield Road but Blackpool said on Friday it would not go ahead this weekend.
The FA has confirmed the investigation relates to the eligibility of a player used by Forest Green Rovers in the first round.
Forest Green Rovers beat Scarborough Athletics 5-2 in a replay, after initially drawing the away tie 1-1.
In a statement, the FA said: "We are investigating a matter in relation to Forest Green Rovers' involvement in the Emirates FA Cup, relating to the eligibility of a player used by Forest Green Rovers in the first round.
"As a result, Forest Green Rovers' second-round fixture away at Blackpool FC, which was scheduled for Saturday 2 December, has been postponed.
"This matter is subject to an ongoing investigation and we will provide a further update in due course."
In a statement on Friday night, Forest Green Rovers said: "We will comply with the FA in their investigation and will provide a full update to supporters in the coming days once the investigation is complete.
"Forest Green Rovers apologises to both FGR and Blackpool fans who planned to attend [Saturday's] fixture."
Last week, Barnsley were thrown out of the FA Cup for playing an ineligible player in round one against non-League side Horsham, who were reinstated into the tournament.
Horsham will travel to League Two side Sutton United in the second round on December 2.
