READING FC have not appealed against the Football Association’s decision to kick them out of the FA Youth Cup for fielding an underage player.

Royals handed a start to 15-year-old left-back Imari Samuels in their 4-1 victory against Colchester United in the fifth round earlier this month.

But competition rules state any player taking part must be aged 15 before midnight on August 31 of that particular season.

Samuels was 14-years-old at that cut-off point and therefore ineligible for selection.

Reading blamed the oversight on an ‘administrative error’, but were formally charged last week and expelled from the competition following an FA Youth Cup sub-committee hearing at Wembley Stadium.

Royals had until 4pm on Monday to lodge an appeal but decided not to go down that avenue after seeking legal advice.

David Dodds’ Under 18s side were due to host seven-time winners Arsenal in the quarter finals.

It means Colchester United have been reinstated instead of Royals.