An Independent Disciplinary Commission has determined that Swindon Town Football Club is to be removed from this season’s Vertu Trophy competition for breaches of EFL Regulations and EFL Trophy Rules.

The Club has also been issued with a fine of £40,000, of which £20,000 will be suspended and which will be automatically payable if the Club fields or names on a team sheet an ineligible player before the end of the 2026/27 season.

The breaches relate to the Club fielding two ineligible players against Luton Town in the Vertu Trophy Round of 16 tie on 13 January 2026. Swindon Town won the game 2-1.

The Club played Oliver Clarke, who was serving a seven-game suspension from the Football Association. In addition, Aaron Drinan, who started the second half of the tie, was not named on the official team sheet.

As a result of the decision, Luton Town will progress into the Vertu Trophy Quarter-Final, where they will host Plymouth Argyle.

The date of the tie will be confirmed in the next 48 hours and will now not take place on Tuesday 10 February 2026 as originally scheduled following a request from Plymouth Argyle earlier today.

The full decision and written reasons will be published on EFL.com in due course.

EFL statement: Swindon Town Football Club

EFL statement: Swindon Town Football Club