Cliftonville Stripped of Women's League Cup as Treble Hopes End
Cliftonville lose Women's League Cup title and are fined £500 for fielding two ineligible players in the final, with Glentoran awarded a 3-0 victory.
Cliftonville's pursuit of a domestic treble has ended after they were stripped of the Women's League Cup for fielding two ineligible players in the final. The Northern Ireland Football League announced that the players had not been correctly registered under competition rules, and the club has also been fined £500.
Beaten finalists Glentoran lodged a complaint with the NIFL after their 4-0 defeat in the July showpiece at Seaview. Following the investigation, the NIFL competitions committee awarded Glentoran a 3-0 victory, overturning the original result. The NIFL thanked Cliftonville Ladies for their openness, integrity and full co-operation during the process.
In the final, Cliftonville striker Caitlin McGuinness scored twice, while her sister Kirsty and Danielle Maxwell also found the net, delivering what the side believed was their fourth successive title in the competition. That achievement has now been erased.
Cliftonville and Glentoran are set to meet again in the Women's Irish Cup final at Windsor Park on 24 October. Cliftonville have already won the league by nine points ahead of their cross-city rivals, but their treble ambitions are over following the League Cup ruling.
Supporters have reacted with disappointment and frustration to the news, with some questioning how the registration error occurred. Others acknowledged the importance of adhering to competition regulations and the need for accountability.
Image: Pacemaker Press / BBC Sport
