Leeds United Hearing Halts Presentation of League One Title

A delay in the decision for Leeds United arbitrary hearing will mean that Swansea City will not be presented with the League One title.



Swansea City was expected to be presented with the accolade after their final home game against Leyton Orient on Saturday May 3rd.



The hearing that began on Wednesday 23rd April was expected to end on the 28th April, when Leeds United and the Football League presented the final submissions.



However the panel is now investigating a letter sent to the Football league clubs in March by the club's Chief Executive Shaun Harvey.



The decision on the confidentiality breach is expected by May 1st, which is two days before the last weekend of the season.



The Football League explain, ‘The panel in the hearing have committed to provide a verdict on or before May 1st and the league has been advised not to engage in any actions which might be misconstrued or viewed as pre-empting the arbitration process in any way.'

However the panel is now investigating a letter sent to the Football league clubs in March by the club's Chief Executive Shaun Harvey.

Sir Philip Otton, the chairman of the tribunal panel was considering Leeds United challenge against the 15-point penalty, when a report claimed a confidentiality breach in a letter sent by Shaun Harvey.



The letter stated the argument that Leeds United intended to present at the arbitration hearing.



The report purport that the letter's content may be in breach of FA Rule K6 on confidentiality.



The Football Associations Rule K6 states that confidentiality should surround all arbitration cases.



However the argument had already been in the public domain as it had been submitted to the High Court of Justice in February of this year.



So Leeds United argue that this is not a breach of confidentiality as the public already knew of the challenge before the letter was circulated.



Leeds United has refused to comment anymore on the allegations of breaking Football Association rules on confidentiality until the final decision.