Burnley narrowly avoid costly error in FA Cup after naming suspended Erik Pieters in starting XI
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 09/02/2021 at 23:07 GMT
The Clarets named Erik Pieters in their starting XI for the FA Cup fifth-round clash with Bournemouth at Turf Moor on Tuesday evening, before being informed that the Dutch defender was suspended for the game after picking up cautions in the previous two rounds of the competition. Bournemouth won the game 2-0.
Erik Pieters (Burnley FC)
Image credit: Getty Images
Premier League Burnley narrowly avoided a mistake that could have led to a serious sanction from the Football Association when it was pointed out that one of their players was suspended for Tuesday's FA Cup tie with Bournemouth.
Burnley named Dutch defender Erik Pieters in their starting lineup for the game but switched the team shortly before kickoff after it was pointed out that the full-back had been booked in the previous two rounds and was therefore suspended.
It was initially reported that a journalist made Burnley aware of the problem, with the match commentator for broadcasters BT Sport saying that their reporter had highlighted the situation, but Clarets boss Sean Dyche has revealed that it was Bournemouth who pointed out the issue.
"It was just a simple admin error," Dyche said. "We have people who keep an eye on situations, unfortunately it got away from that moment where someone found clarity.
"To be fair to Bournemouth, they flagged it and mentioned it, so credit to them for a bit of gentlemanly conduct. We jumped on it straight away and people at our club held their hands up in the right slots."
Bournemouth caretaker manager Jonathan Woodgate said the club's head of media Anthony Marshall picked up on Pieters situation.
"Fair play to the staff who did it and told Burnley," Woodgate said. "We all want a fair game, so I thought it was important we did that. I think it was Anthony, our press officer, who did it. It's good sportsmanship at the end of the day."
It could have been a costly mistake for the Lancashire club. There are several cases of clubs being disqualified from the FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player, although most cases have involved non-league teams in the preliminary rounds of the competition.
It ultimately made little difference, as Bournemouth claimed a 2-0 win to advance to the quarter finals.
With additional reporting from Reuters
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement