Wolverhampton Wanderers have been given a suspended £25,000 fine for fielding a weakened side against Manchester United in the Premier League.

Wolves played with an under strength team in a match that they probably thought they would lose any way. This is a frowned upon tactic used by some lower league teams as a way of keeping important players fresh for other games.

The Premier League wasted no time in investigating the matter and the punishment could have been a lot worse for the club. Wolves are struggling in the Premier League and this tactic is the sort of thing, which will make the teams around them more determined to beat the club.

A Premier League statement read: “The Premier League Board has issued Wolverhampton Wanderers FC with a suspended £25,000 fine after deciding that the team fielded in their league fixture against Manchester United on 15 December 2009 was not full strength and therefore in breach of Rule E20.”

“The board also deemed that the club had failed to fulfil its obligations to the league and other clubs in the utmost good faith and was therefore in breach of Rule B13. The board considered submissions from Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and had sympathy for the explanation submitted by the club in relation to similar cases from previous seasons. However the board ruled that this case could be differentiated from the other matches cited and that disciplinary action was warranted.”

“In coming to this decision the board also wants to put clubs on notice that any future rule breach of this nature would be subject to a disciplinary commission that would have available a full range of sanctions.”

Wolves boss, Mick McCarthy, added: “I accept the Premier League’s decision. It was never my intention to break any of the Premier League’s rules, only to pick a team that was in the best position to get a result. I’m pleased the matter is now closed.”

In a world that is plagued by other football problems, it is not encouraging at all to see a lower table side trying to get around Premier League standards. These are the same standards that the club said they were happy to be involved with when they were promoted last season.

Wolves’ Chairman also said: “We are obviously disappointed but we respect the Premier League’s ruling especially as they have now used our case as a clear warning to all other clubs, some of whom have made similar changes to their teams in Premier League matches in the past, that this is not acceptable in the future.”

“We made a detailed representation to the Premier League and pointed to those precedents involving other clubs in previous seasons. This ruling may now lead to a wider discussion regarding the issue of squad rotation and the Premier League’s rules.”

The standard has now been set and anyone who breaks these rules again is likely to face heavier punishment.