Wrexham fined £75,000 by EFL for fielding ineligible players
Wrexham have been fined £75,000 by the English Football League after fielding ineligible players in Championship matches this season, the club and the EFL announced on 28 October 2026. The EFL identified two separate incidents involving Issa Kabore and Callum O'Hare.
The league ruled that Kabore was ineligible to play in Wrexham's 2-1 defeat by Birmingham City on 28 August because his Home Office 'right to work' documents were not correctly uploaded. O'Hare, who had joined from Sheffield United the day before, was an unused substitute in Wrexham's 3-0 win at Millwall on 2 September; his documentation was not uploaded in time.
Burkina Faso international Issa Kabore had spent the previous season on loan at Wrexham before making a permanent move from Manchester City during the 2026 summer transfer window. The 25-year-old signed a three-year contract on the eve of the Birmingham match and has featured 10 times in the Championship so far this season.
Callum O'Hare also completed a permanent move to Wrexham during the 2026 summer transfer window, putting pen to paper on a three-year contract after opting to leave Sheffield United. The club confirmed his registration paperwork was not completed in time for the Millwall game.
The EFL imposed a £75,000 fine, of which £25,000 is suspended, following the two eligibility breaches. In a statement the club said: "We can confirm that Wrexham AFC has reached an agreed decision with the EFL concerning two breaches relating to player eligibility." A subsequent Wrexham statement added: "The club is taking the appropriate steps to prevent such issues occurring in the future."
A club official told BBC Sport Wales the incidents involving Kabore and O'Hare were not the fault of boss Phil Parkinson, the club's coaching staff or new sporting director Steve Nickson, who was not officially appointed to his role until 7 September. Wrexham are currently 17th in the second tier after 12 games.
The club is understood to be actively improving measures at the club to avoid future issues and are thought to be hiring a club secretary in addition to improving administrative training.
