Football: League order replay

FA Premiership: West Ham hit for four by Manchester United and now have to face Villa again

THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE last night ordered West Ham to replay their Worthington Cup quarter-final against Aston Villa. The Hammers had fielded an ineligible player, Manny Omoyinmi, during Wednesday's penalty shoot- out win at Upton Park. Omoyinmi was cup-tied after playing for Gillingham twice in an earlier round.

A spokesman said: "The Football League confirmed this evening that, following discussions with both clubs, the Worthington Cup tie between West Ham United and Aston Villa will be restaged at Upton Park during the week commencing 10 January. The League paid tribute to the two clubs involved for their assistance in determining this matter, and for bringing about the most equitable solution to a very sensitive situation."

The Aston Villa manager, John Gregory, was happy to have secured a second chance in the cup - but also admitted to having a tinge of sympathy for his counterpart Harry Redknapp. Gregory said: "There's been an administrative cock-up and we have benefited. But I do feel for Harry Redknapp - the same thing might have happened with us. When Benito Carbone signed, one of the first things I asked him was if he had played in the Worthington Cup and he said `no'. But our secretary chased up the matter and he had, in fact, played five minutes for Sheffield Wednesday against Stoke."