Mark Lawn last night revealed that City had appealed against being booted out of the FA Cup because they feel the “punishment does not fit the crime”.

The Bantams were left stunned yesterday after being thrown out of the famous old knockout competition for fielding an ineligible player in their second-round tie against Brentford last Friday.

The club 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.

Yet City decided to lodge an appeal before yesterday’s 5pm deadline and their case will be heard by the Football Association in London on Monday.

It remains to be seen what hope the Bantams have of winning their appeal but joint-chairman Lawn told the T&A: “Obviously if we are appealing then we don’t agree with the FA’s decision.

“We do not think the punishment fits the crime and we believe we have a good right to appeal.

“We will have to go into that appeal and see how the FA responds to why we think the punishment is too harsh.”

If City are unsuccessful, Brentford would progress to the third round to play Bury or Southend.

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.

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 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.”

Good, meanwhile, could line up for City in today’s League Two encounter at home to Torquay United.

It is understood that there are no problems relating to Good’s participation in Tuesday’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy victory at Port Vale.

Likewise, he is eligible to play against Arsenal on Tuesday in the Capital One Cup.

Bury and Droylsden were kicked out of the Cup, in 2006 and 2008 respectively, for fielding ineligible players, with both clubs losing their appeals.