Wrexham AFC have been issued a £75,000 fine by the English Football League, with £25,000 of the penalty suspended, following two separate breaches regarding the fielding of ineligible players this season. The sanction was imposed after the EFL determined that both Issa Kabore and Callum O'Hare were ineligible to feature in fixtures against Birmingham City and Millwall. In an official statement, the club confirmed it had reached an agreed decision with the league concerning the eligibility issues.
The first violation occurred on 28 August during Wrexham's 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City, where Kabore was introduced as a substitute. The EFL ruled the 25-year-old was ineligible because his Home Office 'right to work' documentation had not been properly uploaded. Less than a week later, on 2 September, O'Hare was named as an unused substitute in a 3-0 victory at Millwall, but his paperwork had likewise not been submitted in time following his arrival from Sheffield United the previous day.
Both players arrived at the Racecourse Ground on permanent three-year contracts during the 2026 summer transfer window. Burkina Faso international Kabore, who has made 10 Championship appearances this campaign, had spent the prior season on loan with the club before finalizing a permanent switch from Manchester City on the eve of the Birmingham match. A club official confirmed to BBC Sport Wales that neither manager Phil Parkinson, the coaching staff, nor sporting director Steve Nickson were at fault for the paperwork oversights, noting that Nickson was not officially appointed to his position until 7 September.
Following the ruling, the north Wales side—who currently occupy 17th place in the second tier after 12 games—are actively strengthening their internal protocols. The club stated that it is "taking the appropriate steps to prevent such issues occurring in the future," which includes plans to hire a club secretary and provide improved administrative training.