Wolves hit with suspended 25,000 fine for their weakened team at Man United

Published: 18 Feb 2010 - 14:43:07

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Wolves hit with suspended 25,000 fine for their weakened team at Man United

Wolves have been handed a £25,000 suspended fine after fielding a weakened teamfor their fixture at Manchester United on December 15. Manager Mick McCarthy made 10 changes from the side which had triumphed 1-0 atTottenham three days earlier. Wolves then responded by recalling nine of the players that had been in action at White Hart Lane for the next league game at home to fellow strugglers Burnley - and won 2-0. Controversy: Michael Owen takes on Jody Craddock at Old Trafford Premier League rulesE. 20In every League match each participating club shall field a full strength team. B. 13In all matters and transactions relating to the League each club shall behave towards each other club and the League with the utmost good faith. The Premier League statement read: 'The Premier League Board has issuedWolverhampton Wanderers FC with a suspended £25,000 fine after deciding that theteam fielded in their league fixture against Manchester United on 15 December2009 was not full strength and therefore in breach of Rule E20. 'The board also deemed that the club had failed to fulfil its obligations to the league and other clubs in the utmost good faith and was therefore in breach of Rule B13. 'The board considered submissions from Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and hadsympathy for the explanation submitted by the club in relation to similar casesfrom previous seasons. However the board ruled that this case could be differentiated from the other matches cited and that disciplinary action was warranted. 'In coming to this decision the board also wants to put clubs on noticethat any future rule breach of this nature would be subject to adisciplinary commission that would have available a full range ofsanctions.' Punishment: Mick McCarthy Rule E.20 states that clubs must field full-strength sides in everymatch, while B.13 states that each club must act in good faith towardsone another. Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey said: 'We are obviously disappointed but we respect the Premier League's ruling especially as they have now used our case as a clear warning to all other clubs, some of whom have made similar changes to their teams in Premier League matches in the past, that this is not acceptable in the future. 'We made a detailed representation to the Premier League and pointed to those precedents involving other clubs in previous seasons. This ruling may now lead to a wider discussion regarding the issue of squad rotation and the Premier League's rules. 'We look forward to fully participating in any such debate at future Premier League meetings. One thing that's never been in question is the integrity of our first team manager, Mick McCarthy. 'He picked a team that, in his view, was in the best possible position to get a result in that particular game. He made it unselfishly and with the best interests of Wolves in mind. 'Today's announcement means we can draw a line under the issue and concentrate fully on the remaining Premier League games.' McCarthy added: 'I accept the Premier League's decision. It was never my intention to break any of the Premier League's rules, only to pick a team that was in the best position to get a result. I'm pleased the matter is now closed." Manchester United 3 Wolves 0: It's lambs to the slaughter at Old TraffordTaking the Mick: McCarthy defends changes after Man United crush WolvesPremier League demand answers from Wolves over side that lost at UnitedWOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS FC