AFC Wimbledon and Mk Dons bitter rivalry is set to resume after the two clubs were drawn to face each other in the first round of this season’s Carabao Cup.
The draw for the competition was made by former players John Barnes and Ray Parlour at the Morrisons supermarket in Colindale, London and in one of the few standout ties, Milton Keynes will travel to face Wimbledon at Kingsmeadow.
MK used to be the old Wimbledon side – nicknamed the Dons – who were relocated north in 2003, with AFC first founded in response to the club’s controversial move. Milton Keynes subsequently changed their name to MK Dons in the summer of 2004.
AFC Wimbledon’s rise back to the EFL, winning five promotions in nine seasons, has sparked a fierce and at times bitter rivalry between the two clubs.
In the announcement of the tie on Wimbledon’s official website the club once again referred to the Buckinghamshire outfit as Milton Keynes, dropping the controversial Dons, something they got into trouble for with the EFL in September 2017 following a league match between the two sides.
UPDATE | Wimbledon have been drawn at home to Milton Keynes in the first round of the @Carabao_Cup. The match will take place on the week commencing 12 August. #AFCW pic.twitter.com/705q7PxPKG
— AFC Wimbledon (@AFCWimbledon) June 20, 2019
The EFL eventually dropped charges relating to the incident after ‘positive dialogue’ between the clubs.
Wimbledon had also failed to recognise the MK Dons name in their very first league meeting at Kingsmeadow, which took place in March 2017, calling them MK on the scoreboard.
Fans soon picked up on the missing piece of the announcement on social media with many MK fans predicting AFC may once again be in trouble with the EFL while Wimbledon fans unsurprisingly backed their club’s stance.
Here is a selection of their responses to the draw and Wimbledon refusal to recognise the official and controversial name of their rivals.
Real Dons v Fake Dons.. surely qualifies as a ‘derby’ ..gotta be on TV 👍
— pompeycarlo💙💛 (@carlofooty) June 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/KrNz420/status/1141772835444207616
Milton Keynes Dons. Don't want you getting in trouble with the EFL do we. Happy to help.
— Barry Jeavons (@BeeJayMK) June 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/MuayoMuay/status/1141775512462876680
Milton Keynes ‘Dons’ 😘
— Harvey (@Harveycanavan2) June 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/BenRigden1/status/1141962074773495809
Milton Keynes 😂😂😂
— 🧤😎 (@Wolfie885) June 20, 2019
You mean Wimbledon v Milton Keynes
— Baguette (@_labaguette_) June 20, 2019
You were charged by the EFL for breaking rules. The charges were only dropped because the two clubs agreed to mediation. Doesn't mean you won't get charged again if you repeat the offence.
— Barry Jeavons (@BeeJayMK) June 21, 2019
