West Ham Utd 1 Aston Villa 3 - Worthington Cup Qtr Final (Re Run) - 11th Jan 2000

Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis today grudgingly accepted a 're-staging' of his side's Worthington Cup quarter-final clash with West Ham "for the sake of football".
The Football League last night ordered a replay of a game West Ham initially won on penalties, but will have to go through again after fielding an ineligible player in striker Manny Omoyimni.
Hammers manager Harry Redknapp has described the entire saga as "a cock-up" which could cost his side millions of pounds given a place in Europe is at stake for the overall victors of the competition.
Ellis admitted he could easily have pursued the matter via a Football League commission and felt confident such a panel would have thrown West Ham out of the competition, which was his ultimate aim.
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But following lengthy discussions with West Ham chairman Terry Brown, League secretary David Dent - and with Premier League chairman Dave Richards acting as an arbiter - Ellis finally backed down.
Ellis, however, has insisted Villa fans - those who can produce ticket stubs for the original tie - be let in for free, which the Hammers have agreed to and are to follow suit for their own supporters, with any new fans having to pay.
"I'm not entirely annoyed (at the decision)," stated Ellis. "I'm delighted we at least have an opportunity to restage the match, rather than call it a replay.
"Naturally I felt at the time it was entirely right and proper that they (West Ham) had broken the rules and we were the innocent party because when someone fields an ineligible player they lose the game and it should have been awarded to us.
"But having spoken to Terry Brown, David Dent and Dave Richards, I conceded and said 'all right, we will go back to Upton Park on one condition and that is our supporters be let in free of charge'.
"I'm sorry Harry would like to suggest I or Aston Villa are not sportsmen, but they were wrong, they made the mistake and Terry Brown was big enough to admit the mistake.
"On that basis, for the sake of football, I conceded rather than let it go to commission, whom I'm sure would have thrown them out, but that's another matter.
Speaking on Radio 5 Live, Ellis added: "If the situation had been reversed I'm quite certain we would have admitted our mistake and allowed West Ham to take their place in the semi-final because it's a strict rule which has been in place for years."
The replay is now likely to become a grudge match, particularly as Redknapp feels aggrieved his side weren't simply handed a fine for their oversight.
Omoyimni, who had played on loan for Gillingham earlier in the competition, had no influence on the outcome of the match during his eight minutes on the pitch.
Redknapp is determined lightning will strike twice by knocking Villa out for a second time, with his side taking their place in the last four and a date with either Leicester or Fulham.
"I feel we can pick ourselves up and win it again," confirme

[@MultiVince95]

Tuesday 11th January 2000

[@VanderlyndenJengold]

surely if you field an ineligible player the other team go through automatically?

[@anthonybailey1966]

Yes it would've happened if Villa chairman Doug Ellis took the matter to the governing body,but he hoped West Ham would come to a compromise and switch the fixture to Villa Park....they wouldn't....really should've been disqualified!