Leeds United have entered into a 'sanction agreement' with the Premier League after delays involving nine of their matches
Brian Dick Reach Football Correspondent
16:13, 20 Mar 2026
A general view of Elland Road, home of Leeds United
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There have been delays to kick-offs and restarts in Leeds United games this season(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
Leeds United have been hit with fines totalling £530,000 for breaches of ‘kick-off and restart obligations’.
The Premier League have confirmed the penalties in a statement on their website which highlights nine different occasions, three at Elland Road and six away from home.
The statement reads: “The Premier League has entered into a sanction agreement with Leeds United FC after the club accepted it had breached Premier League Rule L.33 in relation to kick-off and re-start obligations on nine occasions this season.
“Rules relating to kick-offs and re-starts help ensure the organisation of the competition is set at the highest possible professional standard, while providing certainty to fans and participating clubs. It also ensures the broadcast of every Premier League match is kept to schedule.”
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Fines for the breaches, which were accepted by United, range from £10,000 to £120,000.
The first one was at home to Everton on the first day of the season, a game the Whites won 1-0 but which saw the kick-off delayed by two minutes and the restart by two minutes and 25 seconds, which attracted a fine of £10,000, as did a shorter delay at home to Newcastle United on August 30.
The fines, which are on a sliding scale according to longevity, escalated to £20,000 for delays away to Fulham and Burnley. Delays at Brighton cost them £75,000 and £85,000 at Nottingham Forest.
The seventh breach away to Manchester City was met with a £90,000 penalty and a one minute 20 second delay to the restart at Brentford on December 14 cost £100,000.
The most recent was at home to Fulham on January 17, when the restart was delayed one minute and 27 seconds and attracted a £120,000 fine, including £20,000 for ‘repeat offending’.
The agreement continues: "The club has accepted and apologised for the breaches.... and confirmed that improvement in respect of Rule L.33 has become a key objective for the club, with staff and players working hard towards improving compliance."
As required by the Premier League Rules, the sanction agreement has been ratified by three members of the Independent Judicial Panel.
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A cap of £250,000 is applied to fines for delays of up to two minutes and 30 seconds.
The full agreement can be read here.
Leeds United declined to comment on the sanction agreement.