Following the Saddlers' recent Second Round fixture with Chasetown, which we won 3-2 on penalties, the club immediately alerted the Staffordshire Football Association with concerns over the eligibility of one of our Players.
The coaching staff made a late change to the teamsheet and named Maz Kouhyar in the starting XI without disclosing the change to the administration team.
Having been injured since March 2019, Maz, whilst free from suspension and not cup-tied, wasn’t registered for this competition at the beginning of the campaign as he continued his rehabilitation from anterior ligament damage.
Whilst Maz only featured for the opening 45 minutes, in order to maintain the club's, and the competition’s, integrity the club disclosed this information to the Staffs FA, awarding the tie to The Scholars.
We would like to join the club in wishing Chasetown the best of luck in the next round and will send a team to Bilston, who the Saddlers were due to face in the next round, in pre-season.