Leeds United fined £530,000 for nine kick-off breaches under Premier League agreement | OneFootball

Leeds United have been fined over £500,000 this season after nine breaches of the Premier League’s Rule L.33 for late kick-offs and half-time restarts. The Premier League confirmed a sanction agreement with the club.

Leeds accepted responsibility for causing delays without good reason, ranging from one minute 17 seconds to two minutes 50 seconds. The fixtures included home games against Everton, Newcastle United and Fulham, plus trips to Fulham, Burnley, Brighton and Hove Albion, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Brentford.

On the Everton home date and away at Brighton and Forest, both the initial kick-off and the restart were delayed. Each occasion carried a financial penalty, starting at £10,000 for the first offence and rising to £100,000 for the eighth, with the total reaching £530,000 after the Fulham home game was delayed by just under 90 seconds.

The club has apologised, and improving compliance with Rule L.33 is now a key objective, with staff and players working on it. The rules are intended to uphold professional standards and keep matches aligned to broadcast schedules, providing certainty for fans and clubs.

Further delays will trigger set tariffs, with fines of £100,000 for any hold-up between one minute and one minute 30 seconds, £130,000 for delays beyond 90 seconds, and £170,000 for those exceeding two minutes. Additional cumulative sums of £20,000 apply to each successive breach, with caps of £200,000 for delays up to two minutes 30 seconds and £250,000 beyond that. Leeds United were approached for comment.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk