City tonight confirmed they are to appeal against being booted out of the FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player in their second-round tie against Brentford last Friday.

The Bantams did not receive written permission for Curtis Good, on loan from Newcastle, to play in the competition by the 12pm deadline on the day of the fixture, which ended 1-1 at Valley Parade.

The decision is subject to the appeal which, if unsuccessful, would see Brentford progress to the third round to play Bury or Southend.

The Bantams said in a club statement this evening: “Bradford City Football Club can confirm that they will be appealing the FA’s decision to expel the club from this season’s FA Cup with Budweiser competition.

“This process will take place throughout the forthcoming week. The club will report any further information to its supporters when applicable.

“The club has no further comment to make on this matter at this present time, given that it is an ongoing issue.”

An earlier FA statement had read: “The FA has confirmed that Bradford City have been removed from the FA Cup with Budweiser 2012-13 competition after fielding an ineligible player in their second-round tie against Brentford.”

City admitted the error was “of an administrative technical nature” and apologised to their fans.

The Bantams were the only side left in three domestic cup competitions and face Premier League giants Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup on Tuesday, December 11.

Before the appeal was announced, Brentford chief executive Mark Devlin admitted he had sympathy with Bradford and would have preferred to have advanced in the competition another way.

He said: “It is not a satisfactory way to progress. We would much rather prefer to progress by winning a match but the FA have made their decision.

“The first we heard of anything was on Monday afternoon and internally we just held off before putting tickets out for sale for the replay and just waited for the FA’s decision from yesterday’s committee hearing.

“It is the FA’s competition and the FA make the rules which we all know about. Whether we feel sympathetic or not does not come into play really. It is the FA’s decision. I do have some sympathies with Bradford.

“It is entirely a matter for the FA and Bradford City Football Club. I don’t think we will be asked to get involved any further at this stage.”